Eric Chelle’s men kicked off their campaign with a narrow 1-0 loss to defending champions Senegal, as Christian Gomis scored the decisive goal in Zanzibar City.
To keep their title dreams alive, they must navigate past the determined Falcons of Jediane, who squandered their lead to finish with a 1-1 draw against Congo.
Drawing on his confidence in the team’s potential, the former Sunshine Stars and FC Tulsa star urges the squad to learn from their missteps against the Lions of Teranga and tackle every upcoming match with the mindset of a final showdown.
"The Super Eagles must learn from their mistakes in the opening game. In a competition of this magnitude, losing the first match means every subsequent game becomes crucial," Kwambe told Flashscore.
"The clash against Sudan should be treated like a cup final, with the team focused and determined right from the referee’s first whistle.
"In fact, each remaining match should be approached with the intensity and urgency of a final until they reach the actual final.
"While the game against Senegal is behind them, the team can still reflect on what went wrong and make the necessary adjustments. By correcting those mistakes, they can avoid repeating them and keep their hopes of progressing alive."
A win over Kwesi Appiah’s side and the Congolese national team would secure the Super Eagles a place in the quarter-finals, where they could face one of the co-hosts Uganda, Algeria, South Africa, Niger Republic, or Guinea.
Never write off Super Eagles
Nigeria make their return to the competition after missing the last two editions in Cameroon and Algeria. For perspective, the Super Eagles were runners-up in their most recent appearance.
Arriving at CHAN 2024 with hopes of finally lifting the coveted trophy, their campaign hit an early bump with an opening-day defeat to Senegal; a result that raised doubts about their ambitions.
Still, defender Kwambe remains optimistic, recalling the 2014 CHAN, where his team also stumbled in their first match yet went on to claim third place.
"Looking at the group, it’s quite open, and a win against Sudan would almost guarantee progression to the next round," Kwambe continued.
"If I had the chance to speak with the players, I’d share my own experience from South Africa. After we lost our opening game against Mali, it felt like the world was against us.
"However, we bounced back by defeating Mozambique in the second match, and that victory boosted our confidence, helping us finish the competition strongly.
"I would advise the team not to write themselves off or accept defeat prematurely. There is still plenty of football left to play, and their ambitions are very much within reach.
"With the right mindset and determination, they can turn things around and make a deep run in the tournament. It’s all about staying focused and believing in their ability to succeed."
The Lobi Stars captain also weighed in on criticisms that coach Chelle had not selected the finest talents from the Nigerian top flight for the tournament, urging the players in camp to seize the moment and make the most of their international stage.
Kwambe added: "The negative comments from fans mostly stem from the loss against Senegal. Had we won that match, the reaction would have been very different.
"Also, selecting players for the national team in Nigeria is always a challenging task, much like in Brazil and other football powerhouses.
"This country (Nigeria) is blessed with an abundance of talented players, making it tough to pick the absolute best. Every player has their moment to shine, and right now, this is their time.
"They must embrace it with confidence, regardless of what critics say. This is their opportunity to prove themselves on a big stage. They should focus on being excellent ambassadors for the country and give their best effort in every game.
"The support and belief from fans matter, but ultimately, the players need to stay committed and dedicated to making the nation proud."
