AFCON 2025: Former Super Eagles reveals how Nigeria will beat Mozambique

Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal has urged the Super Eagles’ coaching staff to place greater emphasis on defensive stability as the team prepares for its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Round of 16 encounter against Mozambique.

Nigeria will face the Mambas on Monday at the Fez Stadium, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake, following an impressive group-stage campaign that saw the Super Eagles win all three of their matches.

Speaking with Footy Africa, Lawal praised the team’s overall performance so far but cautioned that the knockout stage presents a completely different challenge.

“The team has really done well in winning all their games so far. It reminds me of what we did in 2022 in Cameroon, but we must now be careful so that what happened then will not happen again,” Lawal said.

The former midfielder acknowledged the depth within the current squad, pointing to Nigeria’s dominant display against Uganda as evidence of the team’s growing confidence and balance.

“The team has been improving with every game, and we also have squad depth, which we saw against Uganda. But now, it is the knockout stages, and the team must be fully ready” he added.

However, Lawal stressed that defensive lapses could prove costly against Mozambique, describing the Southern African side as quick and dangerous on the break.

“I am okay with the midfield and attack, but we must improve in the defensive areas against Mozambique, who are very quick,” he warned.