Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze has emphasized that Nigeria’s Group C opponents in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations should not pose a serious threat if the Super Eagles are focused on competing for the title.
The three-time African champions were drawn alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania during Monday night’s draw in Rabat, Morocco.
Udeze, a former PAOK Salonica (Greece) defender, believes Nigeria should easily qualify from the group, although he acknowledged that no team in African football can be considered a “minor” anymore.
“For me, it’s a straightforward group for the Super Eagles. It’s not a tough group for us,” Udeze stated on Brila FM.
“I agree there are no more minnows in African football, but the Super Eagles should be able to progress from this group.”
Another former Nigeria international, Victor Ikpeba, is equally optimistic about the chances of the Super Eagles in this group.
The 1998 African Footballer of the Year quipped: “We have made a lot of progress in African football, we saw what happened in the last Nations Cup. Most of the favourites have to earn their qualification to the next round but I’ll take Nigeria’s group. I think we can do the job against Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda will be difficult, every match will be difficult.
“We saw how difficult it was in the last Nations Cup but I think our boys have what it takes to get out of the group although it will be very difficult.”
Speaking about the ‘toughness’ of the other section , particularly Group B which is widely regarded as the group of death, the former Monaco striker stated matter-of-factly:
“I won’t like to be in the Egypt, South Africa and Angola group, that is a very difficult group but it is true that to win the Nations Cup, you have to win the bigger countries,” he said. “I think we have a fair group. With due respect to Tanzania and Uganda, I think the Super Eagles will get out of that group.”