Former Super Eagles left-back and 2013 AFCON winner, Juwon Oshaniwa, has cautioned that Nigeria’s group at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON will be far from easy, despite the quality of teams in Group C.

The draw, which took place in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday, saw the Super Eagles placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

In an interview with Brila.net, Oshaniwa emphasized that teams often raise their game when facing Nigeria, meaning the Super Eagles should be fully prepared for a tough campaign.

“If some people say it’s a walk in the park for the Super Eagles in Group C, I wouldn’t entirely disagree, but on the other hand, if others argue there’s no such thing as a soft group, I’d agree with that too.”

Every team will treat their game against Nigeria like a final, and they always step up when they play us.”

The 2013 AFCON winner also expressed confidence that the coach and players are well aware of the challenges ahead and the expectations placed on them by Nigerian fans. He believes they have the ability to rise to the occasion.

“There are no pushovers in football anymore,” Oshaniwa continued. “Every team tends to know how to play when it comes to Super Eagles.

The new coach and players understand that this task won’t be easy. They have to go out there and do what they need to do best.”

The Super Eagles will play all their group-stage matches in Fez, Morocco, with their campaign kicking off on December 23 against Tanzania.