Former Nigerian international Ogenyi Onazi has issued a strong warning to the Super Eagles ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, stating that their opening opponents, Tanzania, will provide a serious challenge.
Onazi's Stern Warning to the Three-Time Champions
The ex-Lazio midfielder, speaking in an interview with Footy Africa, cautioned that Nigeria must be fully prepared for a difficult match when they face Tanzania in Group C in Morocco. Despite Nigeria being the clear favourites to top a group that also contains Tunisia and Uganda, Onazi insisted that the Taifa Stars will be no pushovers.
He drew a direct parallel to a recent shock result in the tournament, stating, "I can guarantee you that Tanzania will make life difficult for Nigeria, just like Comoros did to Morocco in their opening game yesterday." Onazi pointed out that although Comoros eventually lost, they displayed great resilience for large parts of the match, only succumbing in the second half.
A Call for Total Commitment from Chelle's Squad
Onazi emphasised that head coach Eric Chelle must demand maximum effort from his players to secure a positive result. He believes the Tanzanian strategy will be to frustrate the Nigerian attack and look for opportunities on the counter-attack.
"Eric Chelle has to tell his players that they must give more than 100 percent if Nigeria are to win," Onazi advised. "The Tanzanians will come out to frustrate the Super Eagles and try to hit them on the counter." He stressed that the team must be tactically and mentally prepared for this approach.
The Crucial Importance of a Winning Start
The former midfielder highlighted the critical nature of starting the tournament with a victory. Securing all three points in the first game is vital for building momentum and confidence for the tougher tests ahead.
"We have to win our opening match because it is very important in every competition," Onazi stated. "Getting the three points will be a great way to start the tournament and build confidence ahead of the next game against Tunisia, who, with due respect to the other teams in the group, should be our main threat."
His comments serve as a timely reminder that in a tournament like AFCON, reputation counts for little, and every match must be approached with the utmost seriousness and preparation.
