"We're Ready"— Super Eagles captain designate Ndidi says Nigeria can't wait for AFCON 2025 to start

The waiting is the hardest part, and Wilfred Ndidi is done with it. Nigeria's captain designate says the Super Eagles are locked in and keen to get AFCON 2025 underway after weeks of preparation and anticipation, and his message is dripping with confidence.

After wrapping up their training camp in Cairo and playing a 2–1 friendly defeat to Egypt on Tuesday, the team has shifted into tournament mode.

The loss to the Pharaohs in the nation's final warm-up match won't dampen spirits, if anything, Ndidi's tone suggests it's only sharpened their focus.

"We just arrived in Morocco. The Super Eagles just arrived in Morocco and we're ready. We can't, we can't really wait for the game to start," Ndidi said in a video posted by CAF following the team's arrival in Fez on Thursday. "Enjoy, have fun, enjoy the game because we're here to have fun too."

With their captain fired up and the squad behind him, Nigerians have every reason to believe something special could happen.

It's exactly the kind of energy Nigeria needs right now. The former Leicester City midfielder has been handed the captain's armband for this tournament, and his leadership will be crucial as the Super Eagles navigate a tricky Group C featuring Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Ndidi's declaration isn't just words, it's a clear message to rivals: Nigeria didn't come to Morocco just to participate.

The Super Eagles open their AFCON 2025 campaign against Tanzania on December 23, before facing Tunisia on December 27 and closing out the group stage against Uganda on December 31.

All matches will be played in Fez, where the team has now settled in. As Ndidi said: they're ready, they can't wait, and they're here to have fun. The rest of Africa better be ready too.