Nigeria's Super Eagles demonstrated undeniable quality at the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, securing a third-place finish. Their exceptional performance was further highlighted by the inclusion of three key players—Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey—in the prestigious CAF Team of the Tournament, announced on Wednesday. This recognition firmly cemented Nigeria's strong presence in a competition ultimately won by Senegal, with hosts Morocco finishing as runners-up.

Leading the formidable Nigerian attack was Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker, who consistently embodied the team's relentless fighting spirit. Throughout the tournament, Osimhen proved to be a constant menace to opposing defenders, utilizing his explosive speed, imposing physicality, and aggressive pressing tactics to maintain immense pressure. His crucial contributions included four goals, which were instrumental in guiding the Super Eagles to the semi-finals, where their journey concluded with a narrow elimination by Morocco in a penalty shootout.

Ademola Lookman's inclusion in the midfield lineup of the tournament's best XI underscored his vital creative role within the Nigerian squad. The dynamic winger concluded the competition as the leading assist provider, registering an impressive four assists. His exceptional vision, intelligent movement off the ball, and clinical end product were central to the Super Eagles' fluid attacking displays. Thanks in part to Lookman's influence, Nigeria achieved a tournament-high of 14 goals, marking the most scored by any team at AFCON 2025.

Anchoring the defence, Calvin Bassey distinguished himself as one of the tournament's top centre-backs. The powerful defender showcased remarkable composure under pressure, formidable aerial strength, and an impressive ability to play the ball out from the back, thereby establishing a rock-solid foundation for Nigeria's campaign throughout the event.

Despite finishing third, Nigeria's consistency and overall quality were on par with both the champions, Senegal, and the finalists, Morocco, a fact clearly substantiated by their significant representation in the Best XI. Individual accolades were also distributed, with Senegal's captain, Sadio Mané, earning the esteemed Player of the Tournament award, while Morocco's Yassine Bounou claimed the Golden Glove for his outstanding performance, keeping five clean sheets. The selection of the CAF Best XI itself was based on a meticulous and objective technical evaluation process, integrating live data, comprehensive video analysis, and on-site assessments of player performances across the entire competition.