Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi cautioned teammates against repeating Nigeria's shocking 2021 AFCON Round of 16 exit to Tunisia ahead of their January 5, 2026, clash with Mozambique at Morocco 2025.
At the Fes press conference, the 29-year-old Leicester City midfielder revealed players revisited the Cameroon heartbreak despite topping their group then stressing it as motivation, not obsession. "History reminds us good form can vanish in knockouts; we're locked on Mozambique," Ndidi declared, noting every AFCON side eyes glory while staying "red alert" from day one.
Post-perfect Group C, Nigeria welcomes rested stars like Ndidi for the 8pm GMT kickoff, facing Mambas coach Chiquinho Conde's "kill-kill" vow after their upset over Gabon. Ndidi echoed coach Eric Chelle's "must-win" urgency, prioritizing execution over favoritism in a one-loss tournament.
Social media amplifies Ndidi's rallying cry amid soaring expectations.
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"Ndidi no dey carry last! Avoid Tunisia 2.0 abeg 🦅" – X fans praising his leadership.facebook
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"2021 pain fresh; time redeem o" – Echoing the captain's vigilance call.gazettengr
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"Mozambique fit sting like Tunisia—focus!" – Cautious optimism trends nationwide. Victory unlocks quarter-final dreams for Africa's three-time kings.sportsvillagesquare+1