A young Nigerian man has become a trending topic on social media after making a bold declaration about the best-performing team at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The Viral Claim That Divided Opinions
The individual, identified on the X platform as @TheMahleek, shared his opinion on January 5, 2025, shortly after the Nigerian Super Eagles delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique. In a post that quickly gained traction, he stated, "We should not lie, we should not steal, no team is playing as good as Nigeria in this AFCON, not even Morocco."
His assertion came after observing the Super Eagles' performance and directly compared Nigeria's form to that of Morocco, a team many consider a continental powerhouse. While the post celebrated Nigeria's strong start, it immediately drew a flood of mixed reactions from football fans across the platform.
Social Media Erupts With Counter Arguments
Despite some users agreeing with the sentiment, a significant portion of the online community challenged the claim. Many argued that the Super Eagles had not yet faced a stern test in the tournament.
User @deolar_zeal responded skeptically, writing, "Taah! that one na lie, na because we never jam any serious team yet, from next match now dem go dey display their real self." This view was echoed by @Dpersonality16, who stressed, "Our true test will come in the Quarter Finals. I don't think we can dominate today's Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire or Cameroon."
Others took aim directly at the mention of Morocco. User @komrade_michy pointed out, "Morocco no really good like that na we dey hype when oya when last dem win AFCON," questioning the North African team's pedigree in the tournament despite their world ranking.
Support and Cautious Optimism
Amid the criticism, several fans rallied behind the original post, expressing pride in the team's display. User @Kuye38118O shared optimistic support, stating, "Super eagles are amazing currently... Let’s hope we win this competition. Because we can’t play this beautifully and fail to win anything."
The debate highlights the passionate and analytical nature of Nigerian football fandom. While the 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique has boosted confidence, many supporters are adopting a wait-and-see approach, believing the team's true quality will only be revealed against stronger opposition in the later knockout stages of AFCON 2025.
The viral discussion also extended to praising individual performances. In a related report, another Nigerian fan hailed Ademola Lookman as the best player of the tournament so far, following his role in the big win. Other players like Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, and Frank Onyeka also received plaudits from the excited fanbase.
