Is the Nigerian midfield the key to winning the AFCON 2025?
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Cydias Aujard
Why Osimhen and Lookman Can't Win it Alone
Nigeria has not one, but two African Footballers of the Year, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, in their AFCON squad. They also boast several Europe-bound forwards, yet they struggled to score consistently during World Cup qualifiers. Spectators have pointed to many problems with the squad, but one major issue has obviously been getting the attackers the ball in dangerous positions.
Is Nigeria destined for another painful exit in the 2025 AFCON or their first title since 2013? Our experts have all the answers in our AFCON 2025 prediction and betting tips.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni, the former Everton Striker, didn't mince words when he said, "We need a proper midfielder who can pass the ball because we have too many defensive midfielders." He singled out Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka specifically, saying, "They can only pass the ball sideways." That might sound harsh, but watching Nigeria's playoff defeat to DR Congo when promising attacks repeatedly broke down in midfield somewhat underlines his point.
The comparison to Sunday Oliseh also stings because it's accurate. Nigeria hasn't had a midfielder who can dictate tempo, switch play, and unlock defenses with a killer pass since the days of Oliseh. Jay-Jay Okocha's nephew Alex Iwobi has the famous name, but as Yakubu put it, "He is just buzzing around, getting the ball, passing it. We need someone who can pass forward."
Tunisia will look to exploit that weakness, and so will Uganda. When Nigeria faces teams sitting deep with organized blocks, which every opponent tends to do once Osimhen and Lookman are on the pitch, sideways passing won't cut it.
Nigeria's Midfield Lineup: Weaknesses and Strengths
Eric Chelle selected eight midfielders for Morocco, but critics say those names mostly occupy the same profile. Ndidi, Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Tochukwu Nnadi are all ball-winners first. Excellent at breaking up play, protecting the defense, and recovering possession, just as defensive midfielders should be.
The three newcomers, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro from Pisa, Nnadi from Zulte Waregem, and 31-year-old late bloomer Usman Muhammed, are supposed to add something different. Akinsanmiro can carry the ball, beat the press, and progress Nigeria’s play through the lines. Nnadi brings physicality and off-ball intelligence. But the problem boils down to inexperience.
It's true that Nigeria won't easily get overrun in midfield battles. They'll win second balls, make recovery runs, and shield the defense. But winning possession and using it effectively are two different things entirely. There's a reason former players keep bringing up the creativity gap, and it's glaring.
Finding the Right Formation
Chelle loves his 4-4-2 diamond, and has publicly defended it, saying, "I like to play with two strikers, have numerical superiority in midfield." This makes a lot of sense as the shape maximizes Osimhen and Lookman's partnership while flooding the center. But the diamond creates problems Nigeria hasn't yet solved.
Traditional wingers like Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze, guys who thrive on the touchline, delivering crosses, stretching defenses, often get squeezed into narrow roles they're not built for. During the Rwanda match, Chelle stationed Chukwueze behind the strikers in the diamond's tip. It worked because Rwanda gave them space. Tunisia won't be so accommodating.
But Chelle insists he's not married to one system. Against Ivory Coast at AFCON 2023 with Mali, he switched to five defenders late in the match. He's used a flat 4-4-2, experimented with 4-3-3. "What matters to me is movement," he told Onzemondial. "The animation of your players and the profile of your players will make you readable or not." The knockout stages will require different solutions anyway.
If Nigeria faces Morocco in front of 60,000 hostile fans in Casablanca, they'll need bodies in midfield to survive the storm. If they get Senegal, they'll need to match their physicality. If Egypt, with Mohamed Salah, awaits, defensive compactness becomes non-negotiable. But it’s against weaker opponents like Tanzania where that creativity matters most. Tanzania will defend deep and dare Nigeria to break them down. Sideways passing, no matter how tidy, won't cut it against nine to ten relentless men behind the ball.
Nigeria needs someone who can deliver that defense-splitting pass at least multiple times in a 90-minute game. Morocco represents their shot at redemption after missing out on consecutive World Cups since the 90’s. The squad has the attacking talent to win, and the defense, even with Troost-Ekong's retirement, has enough quality. But the midfield remains the great unknown. Will it be the foundation that supports championship football? Or the weak link that costs Nigeria another trophy?
