Ivorian football legend Yaya Touré has labeled Nigeria’s Super Eagles as the standout team of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite their semifinal exit. The former Manchester City midfielder expressed deep admiration for the clinical attacking philosophy adopted by the squad, which netted a tournament-high 14 goals while conceding only four.
Touré noted that Nigeria established themselves as the most feared offensive force in Morocco, maintaining a flawless defensive record throughout the knockout stages until their narrow penalty shootout defeat to the hosts.
Touré shared his technical assessment with Bleacher Report Football, acknowledging the tactical strengths of other top contenders. He specifically praised Algeria’s quality before the Super Eagles eliminated them in the quarterfinals and lauded the pragmatic, counter-attacking efficiency of Walid Regragui’s Moroccan side. However, the four-time African Footballer of the Year argued that Nigeria’s sheer firepower and the presence of the continent’s two premier players set them apart from the rest of the field.
Although Nigeria missed out on the final, they concluded their campaign by securing the bronze medal in a tense third-place playoff against Egypt. Following a goalless draw in regulation time, the Super Eagles triumphed 4-2 on penalties to reach the podium for the 17th time in their history. Touré’s endorsement highlights the significant tactical evolution of the Nigerian side, which many pundits now consider the most entertaining team on the continent.
Touré shared his insights with Bleacher Report Football: “I’ve been watching the Afcon, and I’ve actually been there too. I have been impressed with Algeria, but they were eliminated by Nigeria. I’ve been really impressed with the team that Walid Regragui is coaching. The manager of Morocco is very practical, very straightforward, and focuses on counter-attacks. I was really impressed with Nigeria.
Nigeria plays good football. When you look at the stats, they’ve been scoring more goals than usual. It feels like a full attack, playing really good football. The thing that impressed me the most was Nigeria — the way they played football and the goals they scored. The players won because they had the two top African players on their team. They played really good games but were knocked out by Morocco in the semifinals.”
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