Yaya Touré Tips Super Eagles as AFCON 2025’s Most Impressive Team

Yaya Touré Tips Super Eagles as AFCON 2025’s Most Impressive Team

By Admin 

Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré has hailed Nigeria’s Super Eagles as the most impressive team at the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Despite falling short of the final after a dramatic semi-final defeat to hosts Morocco on penalties, Nigeria left a strong impression with a series of commanding performances throughout the tournament. The shootout loss marked a rare dip in form for a Super Eagles side that had steadily gathered momentum as the competition progressed.

Outside of the semi-final setback, Nigeria were widely viewed as the tournament’s standout team, producing dominant displays against high-profile opponents including Tunisia, Mozambique, Algeria and Egypt, whom they defeated in the third-place playoff. Their blend of authority, attacking fluency and tactical control consistently set them apart.

One of their most emphatic outings came against Algeria’s Fennec Foxes, whom Nigeria subdued so comprehensively that the North Africans failed to register a single clear-cut scoring opportunity.

By the end of the quarter-final stage, the Super Eagles had already amassed 14 goals — the highest tally of any team at AFCON 2025. Their attacking intent, coupled with defensive discipline, made them one of the tournament’s most entertaining sides.

Speaking after the final in Morocco, Touré was asked to identify the team that impressed him most during the competition. While acknowledging the achievements of his native Ivory Coast, the former midfielder was unequivocal in his praise for Nigeria.

“I was impressed with Nigeria. They played very good football,” Touré said. “When you look at the statistics, they scored more goals than usual — full attack, very good football.

“For me, the most impressive team was Nigeria. The football they played, the goals they scored, and the way the players performed were outstanding. They had two CAF Players of the Year and played wonderful matches, but they were eliminated by Morocco.”

Nigeria’s performances exceeded pre-tournament expectations, with many observers initially cautious following a period of inconsistent results. However, the Super Eagles found their rhythm in Morocco, delivering a statement campaign that reaffirmed their status among Africa’s elite.