‘Come home with something’ – Onazi makes demands ahead of Super Eagles third place clash

Former Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has challenged Nigeria’s players to secure a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, warning that returning home empty-handed would deepen national disappointment.

Nigeria face Egypt in the third-place playoff at the Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, following their semifinal exit against hosts Morocco.

The defeat ended hopes of a place in the final but left Eric Chelle’s side with one last opportunity to close the tournament on a positive note.

Onazi: Players must respond

Reacting to the Morocco loss, Onazi, a member of Nigeria’s AFCON 2013-winning squad, acknowledged the emotional impact of the defeat but insisted the team must quickly refocus.

“I think it’s a very difficult moment right now, but we have to move on,” Onazi said on the Bet9ja Game On podcast. “They have no other choice; we need to come home with something.”

The former Lazio midfielder stressed that the third-place match carries weight beyond pride, especially after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Before they got to this stage, I thought this team would give us something to console ourselves for missing out on the World Cup, but unfortunately, it ended this way,” he said.

Experience shapes perspective

Onazi drew from personal experience, having debuted for Nigeria in 2012 under the late Stephen Keshi before playing a key role in the country’s AFCON triumph in South Africa the following year.

He featured in five matches during that tournament, forming a midfield partnership with John Obi Mikel and Sunday Mba.

Now 33, the Jos-born former international urged the current squad to channel frustration into motivation against Egypt.

“Anywhere the motivation will come from, just fire yourself up,” he added. “At this point, everyone is looking at them and asking, ‘What can we do?’”

Final test against Egypt

Nigeria will be without defender Calvin Bassey for the playoff, while Egypt arrive after suffering their first AFCON semifinal defeat since 1974, losing to Senegal.

The Pharaohs are expected to be highly motivated, with the match potentially marking Mohamed Salah’s final AFCON appearance.

Onazi, however, remains confident, predicting a 3-0 victory for the Super Eagles and insisting that leaving Morocco without a medal would compound the disappointment already felt by fans.

“We’re already heartbroken,” he said. “So we must leave with something.”