Former Nigeria international Henry Makinwa in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa says the Super Eagles must combine the resilience of Italy with the attacking flair of Spain as they prepare for the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria have impressed at AFCON 2025 despite arriving at the tournament on the back of a disappointing FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
The three-time African champions enjoyed a strong group-stage run, producing eye-catching performances and results. One of their standout displays came in a dramatic 3-2 win over Tunisia, a side that had not conceded in World Cup qualifiers prior to the tournament.
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With the Super Eagles now into the knockout phase, Makinwa believes mentality will be key.
“There’s no cause for alarm yet. What the team needs to reinforce is character: play with the flair of a Spanish side and win with the character of an Italian team,” he exclusively told Footy-Africa.
Makinwa was encouraged by what he saw from the team overall, praising their organization and identity on the pitch.
“The overall performance was impressive. It was the first time in recent years that felt purposeful. The team played as a unit and showed a clear identity, with excellent transitions from attack to defence,” he added.
However, despite their strong group-stage showing, Nigeria have looked vulnerable defensively, particularly when dealing with long balls and set pieces.
Makinwa believes those areas must be addressed quickly, calling for leadership at the back.
“I expect Ajayi to take charge of the defensive line. On set pieces delivered across the goal line, the team should adopt man-marking, with one or two free players assigned to attack the cross. That didn’t happen. Coaches can’t see everything from the touchline, so I would delegate a commanding player in those situations. He should organise the defensive line—same height, same energy, and the right attitude. Ajayi should be the ‘defence minister,’” Makinwa noted.
The former forward also highlighted several standout individual performances, singling out Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman for praise.
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“Osimhen played like a true leader, contributing significantly to defensive duties. Lookman was outstanding, while Iwobi’s penetrating passes have been evident across the two games so far. The midfield also looked well-coordinated,” he concluded.
Iwobi has provided two assists so far, while Lookman has contributed two goals and two assists, with Osimhen scoring once.
