By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré has described Nigeria’s Super Eagles as the most impressive team at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite their elimination in the semi-finals.
Nigeria enjoyed a strong campaign at the tournament, scoring 14 goals and conceding just four throughout the competition. The Super Eagles were particularly solid in the knockout stages, where they recorded clean sheets and displayed an attacking style that set them apart from other teams.
Although their title charge ended with a narrow semi-final defeat to Morocco, Touré said Nigeria’s overall performance made them the best team at the tournament. He noted that the Super Eagles combined flair with efficiency, making them the most exciting side to watch.
Speaking to Bleacher Report Football, the former Barcelona and Manchester City star said he closely followed the competition and was impressed by several teams. He singled out Algeria for praise, describing them as strong contenders before they were knocked out by Nigeria in the quarter-finals.
Touré also commended Morocco’s tactical approach under coach Walid Regragui, describing the team as practical and disciplined, with an effective use of quick counter-attacks that carried them to the final.
However, the former African Footballer of the Year maintained that Nigeria stood out above the rest. According to him, the Super Eagles played with a full attacking mindset and consistently created chances, resulting in one of their highest goal tallies in recent AFCON tournaments.
Touré added that Nigeria’s success was driven by the quality of their players, whom he described as the two best footballers on the African continent. He said their performances and goals were key to the team’s impressive run, even though they fell short of reaching the final.
Nigeria ended the tournament on a high note by winning the bronze medal, defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties after a draw in regulation time in the third-place playoff.
