Odegbami Urges Super Eagles to Play Confidently Ahead of Algeria AFCON Clash
Former Super Eagles captain and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Segun Odegbami, has called on the Nigerian national team to turn their individual talent into collective success by embracing confidence and self-belief.
In a video message shared on the Super Eagles’ official X handle on Friday, Odegbami stressed that belief in one’s abilities is the key difference in international football.
“It is about confidence, it is about belief that you can do it. The difference between football in countries is not much. From match to match, what makes you win is so small,” he said.
He added, “From match to match, it could just be one moment of magic, it could be a bit of luck, it could be someone’s mistake. But often, when you play well and play together, success comes. The most important factor is confidence and self-belief.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s footballing history, Odegbami said the Super Eagles have a depth of talent that should challenge any African opponent. He acknowledged both current stars and past legends who paved the way for the nation’s footballing success.
“With the quality we have, with our history and our players, no country in Africa should struggle with us,” he said. “Last year it was Victor Osimhen, now it is Ademola Lookman. We have always had talent. Even great players like Mikel Obi and others never became Africa’s Player of the Year, which shows how deep our talent is.”
Odegbami advised the Super Eagles that playing with conviction leads to deserved victories rather than relying on luck.
“So as we prepare, my advice to the Super Eagles is that they should play confidently, play without fear, and play like champions. When you play like that, you win deservedly because it is not by chance—it is because you are good,” he said.
The 1980 AFCON champion concluded with a rallying call for the team to dominate the pitch and entertain fans with flair and authority.
“Go out there, play, perform, entertain, dominate, and win. We have the players to do it,” Odegbami said.
His message comes ahead of the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2025 quarter-final clash against Algeria in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Saturday, where Nigeria aims to continue its strong tournament run.
