Former Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni identifies Super Eagles weakness ahead of AFCON 2025

Former Nigeria international Yakubu Aiyegbeni has identified the Super Eagles weakness ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.

Eric Chelle, who is the head coach of the Super Eagles announced his 28-man squad for the continental showpiece last week.

And according to the former Everton star, the Super Eagles lack a creative midfielder who can control; games at the continental showpiece.

He believes the current squad, despite eight midfielders named by coach Eric Chelle, is too defensive. “We need a proper midfielder who can pass the ball… we have too many defensive midfielders,”

Yakubu added that players like Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka “can only pass the ball sideways”… He recalled Sunday Oliseh as a model, saying “we don’t have it… We don’t dominate games.” Nigeria face Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in Group C in Morocco.

The Super Eagles has opened camp in Egypt, with 25 players reporting for their pre-AFCON friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Nigeria are paired in Group C against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda. The West Africa football giants are expected to open their account against Tanzania on December 23, 2025.