Former Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou has shared his views on the tournament’s semi-final matches. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.
According to him, it is common knowledge that the two best teams progressed to Sunday’s final because the players do not just have the required talent, but the mentality as well.
Kalou added that the Super Eagles disappointed him against Morocco, and it would have been harsh on the hosts if Nigeria qualified via penalties.
His words, “You can’t argue that the two best teams went through. At this stage of AFCON, it’s not just about talent, it’s about mentality. Both finalists showed they could manage the big moments, stay organised, and stay patient. Semi-finals are emotional games, and the teams that keep their heads usually progress. That’s exactly what we saw.
Nigeria disappointed me. They never really managed to get Lookman or Osimhen into the game, and when your biggest threats are quiet, it’s hard to win at this level. Morocco were dominant in the key areas, they controlled the midfield, they won the duels and they looked more confident on the ball. Even though it went to penalties, the best team won. It would’ve been harsh on Morocco if Nigeria had gone through based on the balance of play.”
On the final on Sunday, “I’m expecting another tight, low-scoring game. Finals are rarely open because nobody wants to be the one who makes the mistake. But I hope we get a moment of magic, a goal that defines the tournament, rather than penalties deciding it. Losing a final on penalties stays with you for a long time. It’s a horrible way to lose.”
WOW.
The Nigeria national football team represents Nigeria in international men’s football. Governed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), they are three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners, with their most recent title in 2013.
In February 2024, the Nigerian national football team was ranked 28th in the FIFA rankings. The team has qualified for six of the last nine FIFA World Cups, missing only the 2006, 2022 and 2026 tournaments. They have reached the round of 16 on three occasions. Their first World Cup appearance was in the 1994 edition. The team is a member of FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after ending the qualifiers with a 2–2 draw against Guinea with goals from Ikechukwu Uche and Victor Obinna, but were successful in their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign, qualifying for the final tournament in South Africa after an 8–3 aggregate win over Liberia; after playing through the tournament with an unbeaten run, they defeated Burkina Faso 1–0 in the final to lift the Cup for the third time.
However, they did not qualify for either of the next two tournaments.
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