The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) returns in 2025, bringing together the continent’s elite football talent in a celebration of African football excellence. As the biggest and most prestigious competition in African football, AFCON 2025 represents a crucial opportunity for Nigeria to reclaim continental glory and for several key players to cement their legacies on the biggest stage African football has to offer.
As the tournament approaches, three players stand out as potential difference-makers for Nigeria. These are the individuals who could determine whether the Super Eagles lift the trophy or exit with regrets. With BetKing offering comprehensive coverage of all AFCON matches, Nigerian fans have the perfect platform to follow and bet on their team’s journey through the tournament.
Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 Squad: Three Pillars for Success
The Super Eagles squad traveling to Morocco is brimming with talent, from established stars to emerging prospects. Yet within this collective, three players stand apart as the essential pillars upon which Nigeria’s entire AFCON 2025 campaign will be built. Victor Osimhen, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze each represent a critical component of the team’s spine: the decisive goals, the defensive leadership, and the creative spark. Their individual form and synergy will directly dictate how far this Nigeria national football team can go, in their quest to win the Africa Cup of Nations.
See the full Super Eagles squad list for the tournament here.
Here is why we think they will deliver:
Victor Osimhen
When discussing Nigeria’s prospects at any major tournament, the conversation inevitably begins with Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray striker has established himself as the Super Eagles’ most indispensable player, yet his record at major tournaments tells a frustratingly incomplete story, one he’s desperate to rewrite at AFCON 2025.
Nigeria’s Dependence on Their Talisman
The statistics paint a stark picture of Nigeria’s reliance on Osimhen. During World Cup qualifying, the Super Eagles failed to win any of the five matches he missed, highlighting his irreplaceable presence in the attack. Most painfully, Nigeria lost the World Cup playoff final against DR Congo after Osimhen was forced off due to injury, unable to rescue his team when they needed him most.
Even when present, his influence is unmistakable. In a qualifier against Zimbabwe, Nigeria led 1-0 before Osimhen was substituted late in the game, only for the team to concede and draw. But perhaps his most crucial intervention came against Benin in the final World Cup qualifier, where Nigeria needed nothing less than a 4-0 victory to reach the playoffs. Osimhen delivered a stunning hat-trick in that must-win match, dragging his nation through when elimination loomed large. Every Super Eagles match now revolves around him and depends largely on him.
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The Numbers That Define His International Career
At just 26 years old, Osimhen has already established himself as Nigeria’s second all-time leading scorer with 31 goals in 45 appearances. Only the legendary Rashidi Yekini, who scored 37 goals in 62 games, stands ahead of him in the Super Eagles’ record books. At his current trajectory, Osimhen will almost certainly become Nigeria’s all-time top scorer but individual records mean little without tournament success.
Herein lies the painful paradox of Osimhen’s international career: domestic dominance without the major tournament performances to match. He has scored just one goal at a major tournament for Nigeria, during AFCON 2023, a statistic that haunts a player of his caliber.
Why AFCON 2025 Is Make-or-Break
The 2025 tournament represents a critical juncture in Osimhen’s career. A series of unfortunate circumstances has denied him the opportunity to shine on the continental and global stage. He missed AFCON 2021 through injury, robbing him of a prime opportunity. At AFCON 2019, he was too young and inexperienced, playing just 45 minutes in the third-place playoff. Nigeria’s failures to qualify for both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups have further limited his chances to prove himself when it matters most.
If Osimhen doesn’t stamp his authority at AFCON 2025, his next opportunity won’t come until AFCON 2027, when he’ll be 29 years old. For a player entering what should be his absolute prime, the pressure is immense. He needs this tournament not just to add to Nigeria’s trophy cabinet, but to validate his status as one of Africa’s greatest strikers. The goals, the performances, the moments that define legacies, they all need to happen now.
Nigeria’s tactical setup revolves entirely around maximising Osimhen’s strengths. His pace, power, and clinical finishing make him a nightmare for African defences, but AFCON 2025 will test whether he can deliver when every opponent has specifically prepared to stop him. BetKing is offering a specific boosted market on the number of goals Osimhen will score at this tournament. You can definitely back him to deliver, all things considered.
Bet on Victor Oshimhen to Score Over 3.5 Goals at AFCON 2025 (Includes ET) @1.65 Odds
Calvin Bassey
While Osimhen shoulders the goalscoring burden, Calvin Bassey faces perhaps an even more daunting challenge at AFCON 2025: stepping into the leadership void left by William Troost-Ekong’s retirement and establishing himself as Nigeria’s defensive anchor.
From Supporting Act to Leading Man
Bassey’s rise has been meteoric. At AFCON 2023, where Nigeria reached the final, he was exceptional, showcasing the composure and quality that made him one of the tournament’s standout defenders. Since then, he has evolved from a promising talent into the main man in Nigeria’s defence, growing in stature and responsibility with each international appearance.
However, AFCON 2025 presents a completely different challenge. With Troost-Ekong, the experienced leader who had marshaled Nigeria’s backline for years, retiring just before the tournament, Bassey must now step up fully as the undisputed leader at the back. This goes behind his defensive abilities, and includes communication, organisation, and taking on the mental burden of coordinating an entire defensive unit under the intense pressure of tournament football.
The Weight of Leadership
This will be Bassey’s first major tournament as the primary leader in defence, and the consequences of how he handles this responsibility cannot be overstated. All 16 semifinals Nigeria has reached (joint top with Egypt on the AFCON table) were built on defensive solidity, and any cracks in that foundation could derail even the most talented attacking players.
The challenges are multifaceted. Bassey must develop instant chemistry with new defensive partners, communicate effectively with goalkeeper and midfielders, and maintain concentration through the grueling tournament schedule. He’ll face some of Africa’s most lethal attackers, all while carrying the psychological weight of being the last line of organisation before the goalkeeper.
What makes Bassey particularly suited to this challenge is his versatility and intelligence. Comfortable on the ball and capable of playing multiple positions across the backline, he brings a modern defender’s skillset to the role. His performances since AFCON 2023 have consistently demonstrated growth in maturity and decision-making, exactly the qualities needed for defensive leadership.
For Nigeria to go deep into the knockout stage, Bassey’s performance will be just as crucial as Osimhen’s goals. Clean sheets win tournaments, and the foundation of those clean sheets rests on Bassey’s shoulders. Bettors tracking Nigeria’s defensive record on BetKing should watch how quickly Bassey establishes his authority in the opening group stage matches.
Bet on Nigeria to win Group C @ 1.83 Odds
Samuel Chukwueze
Perhaps no player at AFCON 2025 carries a more compelling redemption narrative than Samuel Chukwueze. Once considered among Africa’s brightest young talents, his career appeared to stall dramatically in recent years, leading to harsh criticism from Nigerian fans frustrated by his underwhelming national team performances. Now, with his career trajectory finally pointing upward again, AFCON 2025 offers the perfect stage for vindication.
The Long Road Back to Form
Chukwueze’s loan move to Fulham in the Premier League has proven transformative. In just 10 appearances this season and starting only three games, he has contributed four assists and two goals, demonstrating the explosive attacking threat that once made him so highly rated. More importantly, he’s shown consistency and confidence, the two qualities that had deserted him during his wilderness years.
His form for Nigeria has reflected this renaissance. In the must-win World Cup qualifier against Benin, the same match where Osimhen scored his crucial hat-trick, Chukwueze provided two assists, playing a vital role in securing the 4-0 victory Nigeria desperately needed. That performance reminded everyone of his capability to influence matches at the highest level.
Living Down to Expectations Until Now
The criticism Chukwueze has endured from Nigerian fans hasn’t been without merit. Apart from his lauded performances at AFCON 2019 where a younger, less pressured Chukwueze dazzled, his tournament appearances have been disappointingly inconsistent. For years, he seemed unable to translate his club form to the international stage, leading to questions about his mentality and whether he would ever fulfill his enormous potential.
That criticism has clearly weighed on him. Players of Chukwueze’s profile, technically gifted wingers with pace and trickery, are supposed to be game-changers, the players who unlock defenses and create moments of magic. When they fail to deliver, the backlash is inevitable and intense.
Why This Tournament Is Different
What makes AFCON 2025 such a pivotal moment for Chukwueze is the convergence of form and opportunity. He arrives at the tournament playing the best football of his career, brimming with confidence from his Premier League performances. The doubt that previously plagued him appears to have been replaced by belief.
In the modern game, players like Chukwueze are essential to breaking down organised defences: exactly the kind Nigeria will face as the tournament progresses. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one, deliver dangerous crosses, and create space for Osimhen could be the difference between Nigeria advancing or exiting disappointingly.
For Chukwueze, this tournament represents a chance to own his narrative completely. A strong performance at AFCON 2025 would dispel all the doubts, silence the critics, and re-establish him as one of Africa’s premier attacking talents. Given his current form, that outcome looks increasingly likely.
Bettors considering Nigeria’s attacking options should monitor Chukwueze’s minutes and positions carefully. If he starts matches and maintains his creative output, Nigeria becomes significantly more dangerous going forward. It could become worth backing Nigeria to reach the AFCON final.
Bet on Nigeria to reach the AFCON 2025 final @ 5.00 Odds
The Collective Challenge
While these three players stand out as Nigeria’s most likely standout performers, tournament success requires collective effort. The chemistry between Osimhen and Chukwueze in attack, protected by Bassey’s defensive leadership, forms the spine of Nigeria’s tactical approach.
AFCON tournaments are won by teams that can handle pressure, adapt tactically, and maintain consistency across multiple matches in compressed timeframes. Nigeria possesses the individual talent to challenge for the title, but translating that talent into cohesive team performances remains the challenge.
The group stage will be crucial for establishing momentum and confidence. Nigeria must navigate their AFCON fixtures efficiently, managing player fitness while building the partnerships and understanding that become essential in knockout matches. Each of these three players will need to deliver multiple standout performances if the Super Eagles are to progress deep into the tournament.
To follow Nigeria’s path, check the full schedule of AFCON 2025 fixtures.
Bet on Nigeria to reach the AFCON 2025 semi finals @ 2.75 Odds
Legacy-Defining Moments Await
AFCON 2025 promises to be a tournament where legacies are defined and narratives rewritten. For Osimhen, it’s the chance to finally deliver on the biggest stage and prove he’s not just a prolific scorer but a tournament winner. For Bassey, it’s about establishing himself as a true leader and demonstrating he can carry the defensive responsibility. For Chukwueze, it’s redemption, proving the doubters wrong and reclaiming his place among Africa’s elite.
Nigerian fans will be watching intently, and with BetKing providing comprehensive AFCON coverage and betting options, they can engage with every moment of the Super Eagles’ journey. Whether Nigeria lifts the trophy or falls short, these three players will largely determine the outcome.
Track all the action with live AFCON results and standings.
If you feel confident backing Nigeria at AFCON 2025, Sign Up and check out BetKing’s AFCON betting markets for the latest odds on Super Eagles matches, fixtures, and results throughout the tournament.
