{"id":885996,"date":"2026-01-18T18:21:55","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/18\/if-i-say-anyone-else-manchester-united-legend-ferdinand-lists-three-players-to-win-afcon-2025-for-nigeria\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T18:21:55","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T00:21:55","slug":"if-i-say-anyone-else-manchester-united-legend-ferdinand-lists-three-players-to-win-afcon-2025-for-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/18\/if-i-say-anyone-else-manchester-united-legend-ferdinand-lists-three-players-to-win-afcon-2025-for-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIf I say anyone else\u201d \u2013 Manchester United legend Ferdinand lists three players to win AFCON 2025 for Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soccer <\/p>\n

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\"Soccer<\/p>\n

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand fight for the ball in air. Photo by Steeve McMay\/Cameleon\/Imago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Manchester United<\/a> legend Rio Ferdinand has thrown his weight behind Nigeria to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations<\/a>, Soccernet.ng reports.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The former West Ham United defender cited the Super Eagles\u2019 star power and attacking quality as decisive factors.<\/p>\n

Speaking amid Nigeria\u2019s run to the latter stages of AFCON 2025, Ferdinand admitted personal bias but insisted the Super Eagles\u2019 squad depth makes them his standout pick for the title.<\/p>\n

The 2013 AFCON champions have been one of the tournament\u2019s most convincing sides with their ruthless attacking play.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Photo by Photo by Vincent Kamto Copyright: xVincentxKAMTOxIMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Speaking on his podcast, Rio Presents, Ferdinand explained why he is backing Nigeria \u2014 and why choosing anyone else would not go down well with his circle.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAll of my African friends \u2013 most of them are probably 75% of them are Nigerian. And if I say anyone else they’re gonna kill me. I know it’s not secure yet, but nah, they’ve got Osimhen, though.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Soccer
Ex-footballer and now TV-pundit Rio Ferdinand seen before the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid [Photo credit\/Imago]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The former England defender went on to list Nigeria\u2019s key attacking figures and their influence at the tournament.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOsimhen’s looking to go past [Rashidi] Yekini. You’ve got [Ademola] Lookman, the [2024] African Player of the Year. Like they’ve got [Alex] Iwobi playing. Like I’d like to see Nigeria, man.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Watch Manchester United legend’s comment on Nigeria here:<\/h3>\n
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Who are we saying to win AFCON from here? Rio, Joel and Ste pick their favourites<\/p>\n

Egypt
\nSenegal
\nMorocco
\nNigeria #CRAFTD<\/a><\/p>\n

CC: @rioferdy5<\/a>, @joelbeya<\/a>, @MrStephenHowson<\/a>, pic.twitter.com\/EtSJ90gl3D<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rio Ferdinand Presents (@RioMeets) January 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Soccer Who is likely to win AFCON 2025?<\/h2>\n

Nigeria remain among the favourites to lift the trophy after scoring freely across the tournament and dispatching heavyweight opponents on their route to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Led by Osimhen\u2019s relentless presence, Ademola Lookman\u2019s among other experienced players in the squad, Eric Chelle’s men are poised to win the title.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Ademola Olajide Lookman Nigeria looks on during the Africa Cup Of Nations match between Mozambique and Nigeria. Photo by Thor Wegner\/DeFodi\/IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, standing in their way are a defensively resolute Morocco side and the pressure of playing against tournament hosts backed by a passionate home crowd.<\/p>\n

Should Nigeria overcome that challenge, Ferdinand\u2019s prediction may prove prophetic as the Super Eagles edge closer to a fourth AFCON crown.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"<!--Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Ayomide-Oguntimehin-pics-150×150.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tAyomide Oguntimehin\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\t\tAyomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.<\/p>\n

Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master\u2019s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>Ayomide Oguntimehin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soccer Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand fight for the ball in air. Photo by Steeve McMay\/Cameleon\/Imago Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has thrown his weight behind Nigeria to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.\u00a0 The former West Ham United defender cited the Super Eagles\u2019 star power and attacking quality […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":885997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36776,22880,2005],"tags":[42855,14152],"class_list":{"0":"post-885996","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-if","8":"category-anyone","9":"category-soccer","10":"tag-if","11":"tag-anyone"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=885996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/885997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=885996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=885996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=885996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}