Nigeria is set to take on Egypt on Saturday evening in the third-place playoff of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but the Super Eagles could be without several key players following their semi-final heartbreak.
According to sources, efforts by the Nigerian Football Federation to motivate the team ahead of the encounter have been met with resistance, with strong indications that a number of top stars are unwilling to feature after the disappointment of their penalty shootout defeat to hosts Morocco.
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi are among the high-profile players reportedly reluctant to play, while Calvin Bassey has already been ruled out of the match due to suspension. There are also lingering concerns over Wilfred Ndidi’s fitness, despite the midfielder having served the one-match suspension that kept him out of the semi-final.
A source within the Nigerian camp revealed that morale among some senior players remains low following the loss to Morocco, contributing to their reluctance to take part in the playoff against Egypt.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding team selection, Saturday’s clash presents an opportunity for the Super Eagles to settle scores after their 2-1 defeat to Egypt in a friendly last month, a preparatory fixture for the Africa Cup of Nations in which Nigeria fielded an experimental side.
