By Michael Odegbe
There was still a sense of celebration in the air as four Super Eagles stars quietly departed Nigeria’s camp ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, leaving just hours after their dramatic bronze medal victory over Egypt.
Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Paul Onuachu, and Chidozie Awaziem returned to their European clubs following Nigeria’s 4-2 victory in the third-place play-off, which ended in a goalless 90 minutes on penalties.
The quartet left Casablanca by private jet shortly after the match, effectively barring them from the official Africa Cup of Nations awards ceremony scheduled after Sunday’s final. The bronze medals were not presented immediately after Saturday’s match.
Osimhen, Ndidi, and Onuachu are currently residing in Turkey, while Awaziem is based in France, making a quick return necessary ahead of their club commitments.
Nigeria’s victory over Egypt marked the Super Eagles’ ninth third-place finish in the Africa Cup of Nations, further cementing their reputation as one of the continent’s most consistent teams.
While fans eagerly awaited the stars on stage at the closing ceremony, their mission had already been accomplished; they helped Nigeria finish the tournament in style and salvage pride after a difficult Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
For the Super Eagles, a bronze medal may not have been the pinnacle of their dreams, but it was a reminder of their resilience, even as some of their biggest names immediately returned to club duties.
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