By Solomon OKPO
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Morocco and concluded two weeks ago in Rabat, may have ended with Senegal edging hosts Morocco 1–0 in a tense and controversial final, but the tournament has reopened a deeper debate about the true winners and losers of Nigeria’s participation.
While the Super Eagles earned plaudits for their spirited campaign and eventual third-place finish, critics argue that Nigeria’s domestic football structure its local clubs and home-based players emerged as the biggest casualty of the 2025 AFCON.
Football analyst and commentator Barrister Lyke Leo Igbokwe, writing under the column Sliding Tackles, contends that despite the national celebrations, the tournament delivered little or no tangible benefit to Nigeria’s domestic league. According to him, the gains from Nigeria’s AFCON outing accrued largely to foreign clubs whose players featured prominently for the Super Eagles.
He pointed to recent high-profile transfers involving Super Eagles forwards Terem Moffi and Moses Simon as evidence. Moffi’s move from OGC Nice in France to FC Porto in Portugal, and Simon’s transfer from FC Nantes to Paris FC, were reportedly boosted by their AFCON performances.
However, the financial windfall from these deals went to their European clubs, not Nigeria’s domestic sides.
“The irony is stark,” Igbokwe argued. “Nigeria funded the AFCON campaign, yet foreign clubs reaped the financial rewards. This is a classic case of Nigeria spending while others harvest.”
At the heart of the criticism is the total exclusion of home-based players from Nigeria’s 28-man AFCON squad. Observers note that only about 20 players were actively used throughout Nigeria’s seven matches, raising questions about why no domestic players were included to gain exposure on the continental stage.
Igbokwe maintains that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), under the leadership of its current board, missed a strategic opportunity to market domestic talent. He argued that historically, the inclusion of home-based players in the national team has not only strengthened competition but also opened pathways for lucrative transfers that benefit local clubs financially.
“How are Nigerian clubs expected to grow economically,” he asked, “when the NFF itself sends a signal to the world that domestic players are not good enough for the national team?”
The analyst further warned that continued neglect of the domestic league could deepen its financial struggles, affecting player welfare, infrastructure, and long-term development. He called on Nigerian clubs and players to be more assertive in demanding fair representation, describing the current situation as unsustainable.
Despite Nigeria’s commendable showing in Morocco, the debate underscores a broader concern: without deliberate policies to integrate and promote domestic talent, future national team successes may continue to bypass the local football ecosystem.
As the dust settled on Morocco 2025, one conclusion is gaining traction among critics while the Super Eagles soared on the pitch, Nigeria’s domestic clubs and players were left grounded, counting losses rather than gains.
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