AFCON dreams may be over for Nigeria, but the debate is far from finished. In this episode of Five Aside, we break down the Super Eagles’ heartbreaking exit, the psychology of third-place playoffs, and whether Nigeria should still go all-out for bronze. We debate Salah’s legacy with Egypt, compare African greats across generations, and assess whether this tournament represents failure or genuine progress for Nigeria. The conversation closes with bold predictions for the AFCON final, a deep look at Morocco vs Senegal, and a passionate call for the NFF to finally do right by the players and build on the identity this team has shown.

⏱️ TIME STAMPS (Clean & Pod-Ready)

00:00 – Opening banter & AFCON heartbreak

01:10 – Third-place playoff: pointless fixture or necessary pride?

02:25 – Should Nigeria start a full-strength XI vs Egypt?

03:40 – Was this AFCON actually progress for the Super Eagles?

04:50 – Salah’s AFCON legacy & Egypt’s golden generations debate

06:30 – Comparing Salah, Aboutrika & African football legacies

08:40 – Nigeria’s midfield, Iwobi’s role & creative responsibility

10:50 – Predictions: Nigeria vs Egypt (third-place playoff)

11:45 – AFCON Final preview: Senegal vs Morocco

13:10 – Why Morocco might finally be “due” an AFCON title

14:40 – Penalties, mentality & battle-tested Senegal

15:40 – Final plea to the NFF: pay players, back the coach, build properly