Nigeria’s Super Eagles saw their remarkable Africa Cup of Nations scoring run come to an end after a goalless draw against hosts Morocco at the 2025 tournament, followed by a 4-2 defeat in a penalty shoot-out. The result marked the first time Nigeria failed to score at AFCON since their 1-0 loss to Tunisia in January 2021, ending a streak of 12 consecutive matches with a goal at the continent’s premier competition.
The streak had begun at the 2023 AFCON finals, highlighted by consistent scoring from key players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and William Troost-Ekong. From group-stage draws to knockout-stage victories, Nigeria had established a reputation for attacking efficiency, scoring in every match en route to the 2023 final. Even in their narrow loss to Ivory Coast in that edition, Nigeria found the net, continuing the sequence.
At the 2025 tournament, the Super Eagles opened with a 2-1 win over Tanzania, followed by a 3-2 victory against Tunisia and a 3-1 win over Uganda. Their commanding 4-0 round-of-16 triumph over Mozambique and 2-0 quarter-final win against Algeria extended the streak, with Osimhen, Lookman, Akor Adams, and Raphael Onyedika among the key scorers. By the time they reached the semi-final clash with Morocco, Nigeria had tallied 14 goals—the highest for the nation in a single AFCON edition, equalling Cameroon’s record and just two short of Ivory Coast’s 2008 mark of 16 goals.
Despite the end of the streak, Nigeria still have the opportunity to match the record for goals at a single tournament when they face Egypt in the third-place play-off. While the Morocco match halted historic runs, it underscored the Super Eagles’ attacking strength and consistency, offering hope for future tournaments.
Leave a comment