Former Super Eagles captain and 1980 Africa Cup of Nations hero, Segun Odegbami, has credited Nigeria’s sparkling start at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco to the exceptional quality of the host nation’s football pitches.
The Super Eagles have won all four of their matches, including three in the group stage, as they chase a fourth continental crown. Their latest triumph came Monday, when Nigeria thrashed Mozambique 4–0 in the round of 16—their biggest win of the tournament and first clean sheet.
With 12 goals scored so far, Nigeria is the competition’s highest-scoring team, a run widely attributed to head coach Eric Chelle’s tactical acumen. But Odegbami said the immaculate surface at Fez Stadium has played a major role in the team’s fluid style of play.
“What was it that allowed this group of great players, who have struggled for rhythm in recent years, to suddenly play such scintillating football?” Odegbami asked.
“The answer is simple, yet often overlooked. Morocco has invested in some of the best football surfaces in the world. It’s lush, flat, and perfectly manicured. Every pass, every move becomes a work of art on these fields”
Morocco is hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time, using nine stadiums across six cities, including Rabat, Marrakesh, Casablanca, Agadir, Fez, and Tangier.O
degbami contrasted Nigeria’s struggles in recent home qualifiers at Uyo with Morocco’s world-class infrastructure, urging local authorities to follow the North African nation’s example.
“The Uyo Township Stadium may be regarded as the best facility in Nigeria, but it pales in comparison to the standards set in Morocco. The country must invest in top-quality pitches and maintain them properly if we want our players to excel,” he said.
Odegbami, joint top scorer as Nigeria clinched their first AFCON on home soil in 1980, remains one of the nation’s all-time greats. He scored three goals in that tournament, including a brace in the final against Algeria, and is Nigeria’s third-highest scorer with 23 goals in 46 appearances, behind Victor Osimhen (34) and the late Rashidi Yekini (37).
