• Saturday, May 11, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

AFCON: Super Eagles squad $333.2m more expensive than South Africa

SuperEagles-squad

Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad valuation at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) is 14 times and $333.2 million more valuable than the South Africa team as both sides prepare to slug it out in the semi-final crackdown on Wednesday.

According to transfermarkt evaluations, via CBS Sports Golazo on X post, Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad is valued at $358m, about 14.3 times far more than South Africa’s Bafana Bafana squad estimated at $24.8m.

South Africa came into the competition with 26 players and interestingly, 22 of the players ply their trade in the local South African Premier Division. If these numbers make you dizzy, they should. It all illustrates the enormity of the task facing Hugo Broos and his men.

Also, Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is worth almost five times the value of the South Africa squad.

The 25-year-old is valued at €110m by transfermarkt, or $118m, so needless to say he’s Nigeria’s more prized asset as he makes up just under a third of the entire playing squad’s estimated $358m evaluation.

“South Africa do not have a single player on their #AFCON2023 roster that plays in a top 10 league in Europe.

“About 22 of the 26 players on their roster for this tournament play in the South African Premier Division.

“The total market value of their roster is $24.8 million.

“Their semifinal opponent, Nigeria, has a market value of $358 million, according to @Transfermarkt.”

With a current squad valuation of $358 million, the Super Eagles are the most expensive side among all the 24 teams that competed for honour in the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s total squad value is just over $333.2 million more expensive than the Bafana Bafana team competing in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Also, other players like Alex Iwobi (€28 million), Ademola Lookman (€30 million), and Samuel Chukwueze (€23 million) stand out as some of the most valuable assets in the Nigeria squad.