Former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has issued a direct challenge to the Nigerian national team, urging them to secure victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder made the powerful call after Head Coach Eric Chelle officially announced his final 28-man squad on Thursday.
Three-time African champions Nigeria desperately seeks a fourth continental crown next month, particularly following a challenging period that culminated in their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Coach Chelle had previously revealed a 55-man provisional squad two weeks prior before trimming the roster to meet the submission deadline for final squads. The final list introduces several new players hoping to make their international debuts, but notable names like Christantus Uche, Maduka Okoye, and Tolu Arokodare were ultimately excluded.
Mikel, who played an integral role in Nigeria’s triumphant AFCON campaign in 2013, reacted to the squad announcement on his Instagram platform, delivering a concise and motivational message:
“Bring it home lads.”
Nigeria remains a consistent fixture among the favorites for the tournament, despite recent instances of underperformance against teams considered weaker opponents. However, the Super Eagles possess a history of surprising success when expectations are relatively low, mirroring their run to the final in the last edition. The current squad holds the potential to “shock the continent” by claiming the title for the fourth time.
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