Bring it home -John Obi Mikel sends messages to Super Eagles ahead of 2025 AFCON

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has publicly thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s national team, calling on them to lift the trophy at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The former Chelsea midfielder made the rallying call shortly after the Nigeria Football Federation unveiled the final 28-man squad for the tournament on Thursday, as the Super Eagles prepare for another continental challenge.

Mikel, who captained Nigeria to their last AFCON triumph in 2013, took to Instagram to deliver a short but powerful message of encouragement to the players.

“Bring it home lads,” the former Chelsea star wrote.

His message comes at a time when expectations around the team are mixed, following a difficult period that saw Nigeria fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The final squad was trimmed down from an initial 55-man provisional list, with several notable omissions. Players such as Christantus Uche, Maduka Okoye, and Tolu Arokodare were left out, while several new faces have been handed opportunities to earn their first international caps.

Despite the changes, the squad still boasts a blend of experience and emerging talent as Nigeria targets a fourth AFCON crown, having previously won the tournament in 1980, 1994, and 2013.