The Super Eagles touched down in Uyo on Friday afternoon to a hero’s welcome after confirming their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
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The team arrived aboard a ValuJet flight from Abidjan, where they secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Republic of Benin in their Group D qualifier. The result sealed their qualification for the Morocco tournament, rendering Monday’s game against Rwanda a ‘dead rubber.’
A Triumphant Return Amid Celebration
Jubilant fans and airport workers gathered at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport to celebrate the team’s achievement. Star striker Victor Osimhen and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali were the center of attention, though for vastly different reasons.
Osimhen: The Star of the Moment
Victor Osimhen, who recently returned to the squad after missing the previous two matches against South Africa and Libya, was greeted with chants of “Osimhen! Osimhen!! Osimhen!!!”
Fans and airport staff scrambled to catch a glimpse of the Galatasaray forward, whose record-equalling goal against Benin secured Nigeria’s AFCON qualification. His equaliser on Thursday night at the Houphouët-Boigny Stadium was his 23rd international goal, putting him level with Nigerian legend Segun Odegbami.
Although Osimhen is still behind the late Rashidi Yekini’s all-time tally of 37 goals, his performances have reignited hope among Super Eagles supporters.
Nwabali’s Somber Homecoming
While the atmosphere was largely celebratory, there was a noticeable undercurrent of sympathy for goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Earlier on Friday, Nwabali received the devastating news of his father’s death.
Fans offered heartfelt condolences as the team made their way to the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene, where they will base themselves ahead of their final group game. Cries of “Number One, sorry o! Our condolences!” echoed as Nwabali departed the airport.
Training and Looking Ahead
The Super Eagles are set to resume training on Saturday morning as they prepare to face Rwanda in Monday’s match. Although the game is inconsequential for qualification, it offers an opportunity for the team to continue building momentum ahead of the tournament in Morocco.
Fans Celebrate a Stress-Free Qualification
One fan, Bassey Ufot, summed up the mood among supporters, saying:
“Yes, now we have a Super Eagles team that doesn’t wait until the last game to struggle for qualification or force Nigerians to become Professor Chike Obi and start doing mathematical calculations on how the team can qualify.”
This sentiment captures the renewed confidence and pride in the team, as fans celebrated a stress-free path to AFCON 2025.
As the crowd dispersed, the buzz of excitement lingered, with many believing that this is the start of a new, promising era for the Super Eagles.