It's the most important — Nigeria's AFCON 1980 hero reveals why Super Eagles are excelling in Morocco after missing World Cup ticket

Super Eagles legend Sunday Odegbami believes that Nigeria's success in the ongoing AFCON is largely down to the quality of pitches and infrastructure in Morocco. 

Eric Chelle's side have been the most rampant in the 2025 edition of the African Cup of Nations, with 12 goals in four matches. 

Their dominance and impressive performances have led many to wonder why they missed out on World Cup qualification, despite playing in a weak qualifying group. 

The AFCON 1980 hero explained in his column that Nigeria’s exceptional players are benefiting from the quality pitches in Morocco, which accentuate their technical prowess, compared to the grounds available even in the country. 

“What made the difference for a group of great players that have struggled for years to find their rhythm and win even the easiest matches at home?” he said. 

“The answer is so simple it’s almost too good to be true. While several factors contribute to the scintillating performances in Morocco, the single most important, yet least acknowledged, is the immaculate playing surface.

“Morocco has invested in constructing some of the best football pitches in the world lush green, perfectly flat, manicured grass fields that provide the ideal surface for top players to showcase their skills.

“These pitches are all over Morocco. They do not have, or tolerate, a single patch of uneven grass surface, making every move and every pass a work of art.”

The Super Eagles will hope to continue their impressive showing at AFCON when they face Algeria in the quarter-finals.

They have played all their games in the competition at the Fez Stadium. For the quarter-final, however, they will journey to Marrakech. According to reports, the players have threatened not to travel if their bonuses for the matches already played are not paid.