By Kunle Solaja.

Morocco has once again underlined its growing status as Africa’s premier host of major football tournaments by introducing a landmark innovation for the Africa Cup of Nations, bringing the competition closer than ever to World Cup standards.

For the first time in the 68-year history of the Africa Cup of Nations, all participating teams will be based in exclusive training camps throughout the tournament.

When AFCON kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, each of the 24 qualified nations will operate from a dedicated base camp from start to finish — a concept long associated with FIFA World Cup organisation.

According to the AFCON 2025 Ultimate Guide, every team will enjoy a fully integrated base camp made up of a five-star hotel and a modern training centre reserved exclusively for its use.

In total, 24 such base camps have been designated across the Kingdom, marking an unprecedented structural leap for African football’s flagship competition.

“This arrangement ensures that each national team stays in its own exclusive base camp throughout the tournament,” the guide states, highlighting Morocco’s meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence.

The Nigeria Super Eagles will be based at Sahrai Hotel in Fez, a city noted as Morocco’s historic cultural capital. Their main rival in Group C, Tunisia, like several others, will be based in the capital city, Rabat, with The View hotel serving as its official team residence.

Scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, AFCON Morocco 2025 represents a major turning point in the organisation of the tournament.

 The introduction of base camps is designed to provide optimal preparation conditions, enhance sporting fairness and significantly improve logistical efficiency.

From a performance standpoint, the innovation is expected to have a direct impact. With access to high-quality training facilities and stable accommodation throughout the competition, teams can focus on recovery, tactical preparation, team bonding and mental well-being.

The reduction in constant travel — a long-standing challenge at previous AFCON editions — is also expected to limit fatigue and improve match quality.

Logistically, the base camp system allows for smoother coordination with local authorities, better security planning and more efficient management of team movements.

CAF officials say the camps were selected using strict criteria, including infrastructure quality, accessibility, security and proximity to match venues, ensuring international best practices are met.

Beyond football, the initiative reflects Morocco’s broader ambition to make AFCON 2025 a benchmark tournament.

Massive investments in stadiums, training centres, hotels and transport infrastructure form part of a wider strategy of sustainable development and regional enhancement, leaving a lasting legacy well beyond the final whistle.

By adopting organisational models inspired by the world’s biggest sporting events, Morocco — in partnership with CAF — is helping to modernise African football and elevate the global profile of the Africa Cup of Nations.

As the countdown to kick-off continues, the establishment of 24 World Cup–style base camps stands as a powerful symbol of a better-organised, fairer and more professional AFCON. In every sense, Morocco has raised the bar — and AFCON 2025 promises to be a defining chapter in the tournament’s history.

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The Super Eagles’ camp officially opened in Cairo this Sunday, December 14, with preparations beginning at the Renaissance Hotels as Nigeria’s national team gears up for its upcoming international engagements.

All members of the coaching crew and backroom staff are already in camp, marking the formal start of the team’s programme in Egypt.

The early arrival of officials is expected to ensure a smooth build-up as players gradually join the squad in the coming days.

Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho was the first player to report to camp, arriving in Cairo shortly after 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday morning. His early arrival set the tone for the assembly of the team as preparations intensified.

More players are expected to join the camp within the next 48 hours, after which training sessions will commence in earnest as the Super Eagles focus on tactical drills, fitness work and team cohesion ahead of their next assignment.

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By Kunle Solaja.

It is 10 days to Nigeria’s first match at the 35^th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. A fairly new starting XI could be in the offing as Nigeria’s squad announcement marks a decisive shift in philosophy.

It appears that Eric Chelle is building a new Super Eagles core, even if it means accelerated risk on the biggest stage. It is more like a post-World Cup elimination reset.

After failing to reach the 2026 World Cup, the Super Eagles were at a crossroads. Chelle’s decision to introduce five uncapped players signals a strategic reset rather than incremental tweaks. This is a coach willing to refresh the team’s identity — fast.

While Nigeria retains established stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, the squad features a growing midfield built around youth.

At the last AFCON, Jose Peseiro often struggled to transition from defence to attack; Chelle appears intent on solving that through younger, more press-resistant midfielders.

Players like Akinsanmiro and Nnadi offer both mobility and technical security — traits Nigeria has lacked consistently since the Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Mikel Obi eras.

Morocco 2025 appears signalling a new generation of fullbacks. Alebiosu’s inclusion highlights the need for modern fullbacks who can defend wide spaces and contribute creatively. With Ola Aina injured and ageing options thinning out, Nigeria is accelerating the grooming of long-term solutions.

Salim Fago Lawal is the clearest example. Though untested at senior level, his physicality and instinct make him an intriguing wildcard. Chelle is signalling that potential now carries as much weight as experience.

Nigeria’s recent AFCON failures often stemmed from a lack of fresh legs and tactical flexibility. With energetic new midfielders and a versatile young fullback, the team stands to gain pressing intensity, rotation options and tactical unpredictability

The selection sends a quiet but unmistakable message: No place is guaranteed. Even established forwards like Tolu Arokodare are dropped if form dips.

Short-Term Risk, Long-Term Reward

The gamble is real. Debutants at a major continental tournament may struggle with nerves or inconsistency. But if managed well, Nigeria could emerge from AFCON with a rejuvenated core. A settled identity and a foundation for the 2027 AFCON and 2030 World Cup cycle.

Chelle’s youth movement represents Nigeria’s boldest generational shift since the Class of 2013. Whether it sparks an immediate AFCON run or simply lays the groundwork for future success, the Super Eagles have clearly begun a new chapter.

MEET THE NEW SUPER EAGLES PLAYERS

Ryan Alebiosu (Right Back, Blackburn Rovers) – The Modern Fullback

A dynamic, attack-minded defender who came through Arsenal’s academy, Alebiosu offers pace, overlapping runs and smart ball recovery. With Ola Aina ruled out, he could step directly into the starting XI and give Nigeria width on the right flank.

FACT FILE:

Age: 22

• Background: Arsenal academy graduate, now flourishing in the Championship.
• Strengths: Pace, ball progression, recovery tackles.
• Possible Reason for Selection: Offers modern fullback qualities and can play both defensive and attacking roles.

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Midfielder, Pisa) – The Deep-Lying Creator

A former Remo Stars prodigy with a refined passing range, Akinsanmiro is emerging as a conductor from midfield. Calm under pressure and tactically mature beyond his years, he is seen as a long-term solution in Nigeria’s build-up play.

FACT FILE:

• Age: 19
• Background: Former Remo Stars product who moved to Inter Milan before joining Pisa.
• Strengths: Sharp passing range, press resistance, tactical maturity.
• Possible Reason for Selection: Seen as a long-term creative midfield option with high development potential.

Tochukwu Nnadi (Midfielder, Zulte Waregem) – The Box-to-Box Engine

Fresh from an impressive transition to European football, Nnadi brings energy, pressing intensity and strong ball-winning skills. His athletic profile makes him ideal for Chelle’s high-tempo transitions.

FACT FILE:

• Age: 20
• Background: Ex-Flying Eagles midfielder who has adapted quickly to European football.
• Strengths: Ball-winning, tempo control, transitional intelligence.
• Possible Reason for Selection: Provides energy and balance in midfield; fits Chelle’s vertical style.

Usman Muhammed — Midfielder, Ironi Tiberias (Israel) – The Tactical Disruptor

Muhammed has made a quiet but steady rise in Israel. Disciplined, positionally sharp and hardworking, he is the type of midfielder who plugs gaps and stabilises the structure — invaluable in tournament football.

FACT FILE:

• Age: 31
• Background: Quiet but rapid rise in Israel’s top division.
• Strengths: Work rate, tackling, versatility in deeper roles.
• Possible Reason for Selection: Chelle was reportedly impressed by his discipline and positional understanding.

Salim Fago Lawal — Striker, Istra 1961 (Croatia) – The Wildcard Finisher

A powerful young striker with strong aerial ability, Lawal is direct, fearless and unpredictable. Still raw but full of upside, he adds a different flavour to Nigeria’s attack and may benefit from playing alongside elite finishers like Osimhen and Lookman.

• Age: 21
• Background: Former U-20 striker who has progressed quickly in Croatia.
• Strengths: Direct running, aerial presence, instinctive finishing.
• Possible Reason for Selection: A raw but explosive forward option; viewed as a high-upside project.

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