Former Nigerian international Segun Odegbami has hailed the Super Eagles’ 4–0 thrashing of Mozambique in the AFCON 2025 round of 16, describing it as evidence of Nigeria’s return to football greatness.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Odegbami praised the team’s confident, attacking display, which he said reflected renewed belief and cohesion.
Odegbami, however, emphasized that beyond tactics and talent, the quality of playing surfaces in Morocco has played a major role in Nigeria’s impressive performances.
“Good football starts from the ground up; the pitch is the silent hero. Morocco’s green grass has brought Nigerian football back home,” he stated.
He lamented Nigeria’s poor pitch standards, noting that even the Uyo Township Stadium falls short of the immaculate turfs in Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire.
“Until we fix our playing surfaces, our football will continue to suffer,” Odegbami warned, calling for serious investment in world-class grass pitches and proper maintenance structures across the country.
The victory over Mozambique puts Nigeria just two wins away from the AFCON final. The Super Eagles will face either Algeria or DR Congo in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
A potential clash with DR Congo would offer Nigeria a chance for redemption after being eliminated by them in a World Cup qualifying play-off last November.
