The Super Eagles are undoubtedly, one of Africa’s most talented national teams and at AFCON 2025, the team have shown promise and are title favourites.
Like an eagle, they have soared to the quarterfinal and they did so in style, pummeling Mozambique 4-0 in the round of 16. On Saturday, the Eagles will meet Algeria’s Fennecs at the Stade de Marrakech.
Since that victory on Monday night, every day has come with its own tales, anxieties and exclusive stories which seem to threaten the seamless flight of the team. Whatever the case, the team will continue to soar. Amidst preparations for the clash with Algeria on Saturday, the Super Eagles have a lot to learn from the eagle.
The Eagle is often called the king of the skies. It has earned the right because of its distinct power, vision and hunting skill. The Nigeria men’s football national team are named after this prestigious bird.
The Eagle is a bird with large wings. Due to the size of their wings, they will need a lot of energy to flap their wings and fly. For the energy required to flap their wings for a lift, they find a way to fly without flapping. They conserve energy by soaring. A bird soars when it moves in the sky without moving its wings; the wings are spread and steady, yet the bird moves. Soaring helps them to stay airborne for hours without getting tired.
How do Eagles soar? They use their large wings to rise using air currents like thermals and orographic updrafts. They find warm air rising from the ground due to heat. This air is called thermals. So the bird circles the thermals and rides on the rising air currents. Hence, instead of flapping its wings to rise high, it takes advantage of natural forces to propel itself without expending energy and it helps it to take off and maneuver in flight, with minimal effort.
Another like it is the orographic updrafts. Hills and mountains force wind upwards, so the eagle goes to the way of the wind in the hills and spreads its wings, then lets the orographic wind help it gain altitude with minimal flapping. This helps it conserve energy. With enough energy, it moves for its prey with power and precision.
The lesson: Like the eagle, the Super Eagles should be propelled by the heat generated from the victory against Mozambique. The team scored four goals; coming from the three forwards which started the game and interestingly, they assisted each other. The win was loud, convincing and got the fans and pundits talking. The Eagles should ride on that buzz to soar.
Yes, a particular “heat” arose—the Lookman-Osimhen matter, which has since been resolved. The Eagles must also rise with that thermal, as it were. When they file out against the Fennecs, the Eagles should spread their wings and build on that heat; with Osimhen, Lookman and Adams “heated up” to show once again, why they are the deadliest trio at the tournament.
The Eagle and the storm: During the storm, other birds go into hiding. But the eagle is different. It does not call for the windstorm but when it comes, the eagle does not cower, like other birds. It rather engages the storm and then uses the turbulence to soar higher. Interestingly, the storm and the turbulence it generates helps the eagle to ride to heights it would normally not reach in good weather. So the eagle takes advantage of bad weather to soar to greater heights.
The lesson: Like a recurrent boil, the issue of match bonuses came up again. A worker deserves his wages, that is sacrosanct. The players have shown understanding. The NFF too, are working round the clock to make sure that these bonuses are available up to the finals. Understandably, approval of funds is not same as disbursement and this is where it gets dicey.
Whatever the case, the boys must rise with the storm. Like the eagle, the Eagles should be propelled to reach a height that Nigeria have not attained to in 12 years, by keeping their eyes focused on the prize: the fourth AFCON trophy. After all, the Super Eagles’ slogan for the tournament is Naija 4 THE WIN.
First, it was the furore about Eric Chelle locking the media out of training for three days in order to prepare his team for the Mozambique game. Then the misunderstanding between Osimhen and Lookman and then this bonus row. Three issues within the past seven days.
Like the Eagle uses three forces; Thermal heat, Orographic updrafts and the storm to rise, the Eagles must also not dwell on the negatives but turn them to propellers to soar.
On Saturday, Nigeria will battle Algeria. The Super Eagles must show that they have learnt from the eagle, the king of the skies.