AFCON 2027: Is it time for Moffi and the Super Eagles to finish the job?

Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi has revealed why the AFCON 2027 tournament is a must-win for this current crop of Nigerian footballers, Afrik Foot reports.

The 27-year-old was a part of the Nigerian team that lost the AFCON 2023 final to Ivory Coast, but wasn’t a part of the squad that secured bronze in Morocco five months ago.

The Portugal Liga winner revealed that many members of the current squad may never get another chance to play on football’s biggest stage after the country failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For players approaching their late twenties and early thirties, time is no longer an unlimited resource.

Nigeria’s absence from the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico means a generation featuring Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Moffi himself will have to wait until 2030 for another shot at the Mundial.

That reality has seemingly sharpened the focus within the Super Eagles camp ahead of the next Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

What Moffi said about Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 dreams

The FC Porto loanee was full of praise for the unity and quality within Eric Chelle’s squad.

“We have a fantastic squad. Individually, their personalities are admirable,” the former Lorient striker said in an interview with AY Sugar.

“Whenever we’re together, we feel the vibe, we feel the love for each other, and it’s always good to be around them. You learn and get better.”

Those comments echo a sentiment shared by several players since Chelle’s appointment. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup, there appears to be a renewed sense of togetherness within the Super Eagles.

Moffi believes that the bond should eventually translate into success on the pitch, especially after they came close to winning the previous AFCON tournaments.

“I think this group deserves an honour, we can’t always get close but never reach our goal. We deserve better.”

“We obviously have to work for it because it won’t be handed to us, but I think it’s time to win it.”

Coming from a player who experienced the heartbreak of AFCON 2023 and the frustration of the failed World Cup qualifying campaign, the message carries a lot of weight.

😍🇳🇬 This is simply one INCREDIBLE overhead kick. Happy birthday, Terem Moffi! 👑 pic.twitter.com/OXPAFXEmvg

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 25, 2026

Is it time for Moffi and the Super Eagles to finish the job?

Simply, yes. Not because Nigeria are entitled to win the AFCON 2027, but because the circumstances surrounding this generation make the tournament very important.

The Super Eagles have consistently been among Africa’s most talented sides over the last five years.

Osimhen has established himself as one of the best strikers in the World, while Lookman almost singlehandedly won the UEFA Europa League for Atalanta during his time in Italy.

Both players have won the CAF Player of the Year Awards, alongside claiming notable Ballon d’Or rankings, but that individual success has yet to translate to the Nigerian National team.

Nigeria came agonisingly close at AFCON 2023 before losing to hosts Ivory Coast in the final. That defeat was painful because many believed the Super Eagles had done enough throughout the tournament to lift the trophy.

Then came the World Cup disappointment. As Moffi pointed out, international football does not wait for anyone. Four years can pass quickly. Players get older, injuries happen, and younger talents emerge.

“I’m 27 now, in the next World Cup I’ll be 31, and most of the squad will be in their 30’s as well. It’s almost impossible for us to be there if we’re being totally honest,” Moffi added.

“Young players will come in. The oldest in the squad right now is Semi [32], so, going by that, it’ll be quite difficult.

“For some of us, we might have to watch from home. How do we tell our children that we had two chances to be at the World Cup and we didn’t take it?

“It’s horrible to think about.”

By the time the AFCON 2027 starts, Osimhen will be 28, Lookman 29, Ndidi 30, and Moffi himself 28. Most will still be in their prime, but the window will not remain open forever.

That is why the tournament could become a defining moment for Eric Chelle’s project.

The French-Malian coach has already restored belief after inheriting a difficult situation during the latter stages of World Cup qualification. Several players have spoken positively about his philosophy, while performances against strong opponents have shown encouraging signs that Nigerian football is in safe hands with the former RC Lens defender in charge.

However, progress alone will not satisfy fans, and that is why Moffi’s comments signify that the Super Eagles indeed deserve a trophy as a result of all of their collective hard work.

After two near misses and a painful World Cup absence, anything less than a title lift next year would leave a tainted legacy for this generation of Super Eagles stars.