Victor Osimhen celebrates with teammates after scoring during Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage match against Tunisia at Complex Sportif de Fès, Morocco, on 27 December 2025 © Mehrez Toujani/BackpagePix

Super Eagles Gear Up for Crucial AFCON Round of 16 Clash Against Mozambique

The Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, are intensifying their preparations ahead of their Round of 16 showdown with Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, according to reports from Soccernet.ng.

Training Camp Update: 25 Players in Action

Promise Efoghe, the team’s Media Officer, confirmed that 25 players participated in the latest training session held on Friday evening. This comes after Nigeria’s flawless performance in Group C, where they secured victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda to top the group and advance confidently to the knockout stages.

Injury and Absence Reports from the Super Eagles Camp

Among the squad, Ryan Alebiosu was present but did not take part in training as he continues to recover from a leg injury sustained during his AFCON debut against Uganda. The Blackburn Rovers defender remains under strict medical observation to ensure a full recovery.

Additionally, Cyriel Dessers, the forward from Panathinaikos FC, has been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a thigh injury and has returned to his club for treatment.

Midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, who has attracted interest from West Ham United, missed full training sessions due to a bout of illness, reportedly a cold, which has temporarily sidelined him.

Coach Eric Chelle Calls for Renewed Focus Ahead of Knockout Stage

Despite Nigeria’s dominant group stage display, head coach Eric Chelle has emphasized the importance of mental reset as the team approaches the tournament’s critical knockout phase. Chelle reminded his squad that previous successes hold little weight once the elimination rounds commence.

The upcoming fixture against Mozambique marks the sixth senior-level encounter between the two nations. While the Super Eagles have historically held the upper hand, Chelle insists that the team must maintain unwavering concentration to secure progression to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025.

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