Why Nigeria are flying at AFCON 2025: Odegbami points to Morocco’s perfect pitches

Nigeria’s surge through the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has been powered by an unlikely but, according to Segun Odegbami, decisive factor: the quality of the pitches, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles have been one of the tournament’s standout sides, winning all four of their matches on the way to the quarterfinals and establishing themselves as leading contenders for a fourth continental title.

Their most emphatic performance came in the round of 16, where they swept aside Mozambique 4–0, recording their biggest win of the competition and their first clean sheet.

With 12 goals already scored, Nigeria are currently the tournament’s top scorers, and much of the credit has gone to head coach Eric Chelle for bringing structure and clarity to the team’s play.

But former Super Eagles captain and 1980 AFCON winner Odegbami believes the foundations of this revival lie not only in tactics, but in the conditions in which the team are playing.

He argues that Morocco’s investment in stadium infrastructure has finally given Nigeria’s talented players the platform they need to express themselves.

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What did Nigeria legend Odegbami say?

Odegbami said: “What made the difference for a group of great players that have struggled for years to find their rhythm and win even the easiest matches at home?

“The answer is so simple it’s almost too good to be true.

“While several factors contribute to the scintillating performances in Morocco, the single most important, yet least acknowledged, is the immaculate playing surface.

“Morocco has invested in constructing some of the best football pitches in the world lush green, perfectly flat, manicured grass fields that provide the ideal surface for top players to showcase their skills.

“These pitches are all over Morocco. They do not have, or tolerate, a single patch of uneven grass surface, making every move and every pass a work of art.”

Nigeria’s next test comes on Saturday, when they face Algeria in the quarterfinals.

Elsewhere, hosts Morocco will meet Cameroon, with the winner set to face the victor of the Nigeria–Algeria tie in the semifinals. The remaining quarterfinals will see Senegal take on Mali, while Egypt face defending champions Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles last suffered a quarterfinal exit at the AFCON in 2008 when a late Junior Agogo strike handed hosts Ghana a 2-1 win and ended Nigeria's title dreams.