Nwabali explains Nigeria’s ‘flawless’ AFCON Surge

Stanley Nwabali believes the Super Eagles’ dominance at the 2025 AFCON is no accident, attributing their winning streak to a squad that has “graduated” through the pressures of continental football.

Nigeria cruised into the quarter-finals on Monday after a comprehensive 4-0 demolition of Mozambique. The result maintained their perfect record in Morocco, following a group stage sweep where they dispatched Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda.

For Nwabali, the secret behind their clinical form lies in a collective maturity that allows the team to manage high-stakes moments with ease.

Stanley Nwabali Opens Up on AFCON Quarter-final Run

The Chippa United shot-stopper has emphasised that while quality is abundant in the Nigerian camp, it is their tournament experience that has set them apart.

“It’s a tournament you can’t just start once,” Nwabali explained. “It’s something you graduate into; you keep playing, you keep trying to improve. The best part of it is that we are constantly evolving. If you look at our last game, the performance is not the same as the first—we are getting better.”

The 29-year-old, who has started three of Nigeria’s four matches so far, noted that having players who have “been there and done that” allows the team to weather mid-game storms.

“It’s a group of experienced players. They know how to handle games. I wouldn’t just talk about quality; I’d talk about knowing how to manage the match,” he added.

Under the guidance of Éric Chelle, Nigeria has emerged as the clear favourite to lift the 2025 AFCON trophy. Their attacking fluidity was on full display against Mozambique, but their defensive discipline—anchored by Nwabali—has been equally impressive.

The Super Eagles now turn their attention to a heavyweight quarter-final clash against Algeria on Saturday. It is a fixture that will arguably be their toughest test yet, but Nwabali remains focused on the process rather than the hype.

“I won’t talk too much about the next game yet because we are still in the preparation phase. We take it one step at a time,” the keeper concluded.

Nigeria’s Path to the 2025 AFCON Quarter-Finals:

Group Stage: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

Group Stage: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia

Group Stage: Nigeria 3-1 Uganda

Round of 16: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique

Quarter-Final: Nigeria vs. Algeria (Saturday, Jan 10)