By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Former Nigeria international Taiwo Oloyede has called on the Super Eagles to maintain their momentum and avoid complacency as they prepare to face hosts Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday.
The Super Eagles advanced to the last four after a commanding 2–0 victory over Algeria on Saturday in Marrakech, continuing their unbeaten run in the tournament.
Speaking exclusively to JerseyNumber12, Oloyede warned the team not to get carried away by their performances so far, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded.
“This is the first time in five years that I’ve seen the Super Eagles play such good football,” he said. “I expected Algeria to be a tough nut to crack.”
The former Julius Berger FC midfielder urged the technical crew to stick with the current squad and persist with their high-pressing system, noting that Morocco remains the most formidable opponent in the competition.
“The semi-final against the hosts is going to be a different ball game,” he said. “The standard will be very high because of the calibre of teams involved, and that is why the Super Eagles must not allow complacency to creep in.”
Reacting to reports of bonus and allowance disputes that led the Super Eagles to skip training on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oloyede advised players to focus on national pride rather than financial incentives.
“The Super Eagles should understand that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a sports-loving leader,” he said. “He will surely address the issue as soon as the matter gets to his table.”
Nigeria will face Morocco on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, for a place in the final of the AFCON tournament.