As AFCON 2025 draws near, former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has voiced his concerns about Nigeria’s chances of bringing the trophy home. His verdict? The team still lacks a true creative spark in midfield.
According to Aiyegbeni, Nigeria’s biggest weakness is the absence of a playmaker who can consistently unlock defenses with forward-thinking passes. And without fixing that gap, the nation’s dream of lifting the trophy in Morocco could be in jeopardy.
Yakubu highlighted that while two or three players have shown promise, Nigeria did not see the best of Ademola Lookman in the qualifiers. His club struggles and loss of rhythm affected the national team.
“I hope he gets back to his best before the AFCON,” he said. “We really missed him because he was not the Lookman we know.”
On Alex Iwobi, Yakubu acknowledged his effort and work rate but insisted that the Fulham midfielder is not the creative solution the Super Eagles need.
“He is running around, getting the ball, passing it… but we need someone who can pass forward,” he stressed.
In classic Yakubu fashion, he spoke frankly: Nigeria has too many defensive midfielders and not enough creators. And with no successor to Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha, the team continues to struggle for that special killer pass.
“We don’t have Jay-Jay anymore, so we don’t have it,” he said. “We need a creative midfielder who can pass the ball effectively.”
Despite the concerns, Yakubu believes the team possesses the talent and experience needed to succeed — especially after finishing as finalists in Côte d’Ivoire.
But he maintains that two things must happen:
Ademola Lookman must rediscover his best form.
The Super Eagles must install a true creative heartbeat in midfield.
Only then can Nigeria’s quality translate into an AFCON-winning performance.
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