Nigeria's Super Eagles have officially arrived in Fez, Morocco, to commence their campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The three-time African champions, aiming for a fourth continental title, touched down after concluding their preparatory training camp in Cairo, Egypt. This move signals the Super Eagles' determination to make a significant impact on North African soil, with high expectations from fans back home.

The team's preparations involved a week-long camp in Cairo, which officially opened on Sunday, December 15. Key figures like goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali were among the first to arrive. The Super Eagles engaged in a crucial international friendly against Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat. Sabad Mahmoud opened the scoring for Egypt in the 28th minute, followed by Chidozie Awaziem's equalizer for Nigeria late in the first half. However, Mostafa Mohamed secured the win for the Pharaohs with a 54th-minute strike. Following a recovery session, the team departed for Fez, the designated venue for all their Group C fixtures.

A major boost to the squad came with the arrival of star striker Victor Osimhen in Cairo, completing the 28-man list submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Osimhen, currently Nigeria's highest active goalscorer, is expected to play a pivotal role in their title quest. The Super Eagles will kick off their AFCON 2025 journey against Tanzania on December 23, followed by a match against former champions Tunisia on December 27, and will conclude their group stage campaign against Uganda on December 31.

The tournament is anticipated to be highly competitive, with warnings from seasoned coaches like South Africa's Hugo Broos. Broos, whose Bafana Bafana side eliminated Nigeria in the previous AFCON semi-finals via a penalty shootout, emphasized that there are 'no weak teams anymore' in African football. He expressed his team's strong motivation to achieve the highest level and 'bring back home gold,' highlighting the tournament as a critical platform for African players to showcase their qualities and potentially secure transfers to bigger clubs.

Uganda, another Group C contender, has also voiced its determination. Forward Melvyn Lorenzen promised that the Uganda Cranes, despite their historical struggles, would give opponents a difficult time and aim to shed their 'underachiever' tag. Lorenzen expressed confidence that 'any team that comes won't be comfortable playing us.' He also pointed out Nigeria's recent struggles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against teams like Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Benin, suggesting potential vulnerabilities. For the Cranes, a quarterfinal finish would be a significant achievement.

Beyond pride and national glory, significant financial incentives await the Super Eagles. CAF has maintained a substantial prize pot for the 2025 edition, with the champions set to receive an additional $7 million, bringing their total potential earnings to $11.6 million (approximately ₦17.4 billion) if they win the tournament. Other prize tiers include $4 million for the runner-up, $2.5 million for semifinalists, $1.3 million for quarterfinalists, $800,000 for Round of 16 participants, $700,000 for a third-place group stage finish, and $500,000 for a fourth-place group stage finish. Nigeria has already earned $350,000 for topping their qualification group.

Upon their arrival in Morocco, the Super Eagles delegation made a notable entrance, donning traditional deep green native attires. This outfit featured short-sleeved tunics with intricate embroidery down the chest, matching trousers, and native caps made from the same material. Players wore a mix of leather slip-ons and sneakers. This display of cultural identity echoed similar arrivals from other participating nations like Comoros, Mali, Zimbabwe, Benin, and Senegal, who also landed in Morocco wearing their respective native costumes. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to run from December 21 to January 18, 2026.