Former Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has called on the current squad to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as an apology to Nigerians following their World Cup qualification failure, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 2013 AFCON winner said that the tournament in Morocco presents an opportunity for the team to restore hope and pride to disappointed fans across the country.

“Right now, fans are very disappointed, but I just want to encourage them. They must turn things around by giving people new hope in this Africa Cup of Nations that we are playing now,” Onazi told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“They have to use it as an apology to Nigerians and also win it for themselves.”

Nigeria began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, with Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman scoring the goals that secured all three points.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to DR Congo in the CAF play-offs, leaving fans devastated and placing enormous pressure on the team to deliver continental success.

Onazi, who won Nigeria’s third AFCON title in South Africa in 2013, understands the weight of expectation on the current generation and believes triumph in Morocco would help heal the wounds of missing consecutive World Cups.

The Super Eagles face Tunisia on Saturday and Uganda on Tuesday, December 30, in their remaining Group C fixtures as they chase a fourth AFCON crown.