The Super Eagles file out on against Equatorial Guinea Sunday in their group A opening match at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire at the Stade Alassane Ouattara.
Kick off time is 3:pm
Seen one of the as favourites alongside the Ivorians who won the championship opener against minnows, Guinea Bissau, the Nigerians’ led by returnee captain Ahmed Musa has to win today’s match to give Nigerians confidence that their strings of loses in the preparations to the AFCOn were not nothing to worry about.
The Eagles have to beat their opponents also to vindicate both Ahmed Musa and reigning African Footballer of The Year Victor Osimehn that they would lift the trophy for the fourth time.
This will be the first encounter between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. They faced each other in the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – Nigeria won both matches (1-0; 2-0).
Coach Jose Poseiro had been battling with players’ injuries at the tail end of the preparations as defence midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface, and Sadiq Umar were injured and needed to be replaced at the last minute before the championship just as Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho is also a doubt for today.
Poseiro has exhuded confidfence in the players to do the needful, saying “I believe in my players, in all of them from the goalkeeper to the striker. Every team sometimes has more power in certain positions. It happens to all national teams.”
He said Terem Moffi, who is replacing the injured Boniface will not arrive in time for Sunday while Iheanacho and late addition Paul Onuachu had only just landed in Ivory Coast.
So, the larger part of the Super Eagles’ firepower is expected to come from the recently crowned African Best Player and leading scorer in qualifying (10 goals), Victor Osimhen.
Meanwhile Nigerians have called on the Eagles to take the maximum points in the first match.
Isa Ahmed said Nigerians were expecting the Super Eagles to emerge victorious in the opening match against Equatorial Guinea.
He said there was the need for the players to come out in full force and not underrate their opponent.
Ahmed said that he has confidence in the ability of the Eagles to win the match considering the high spirit in the camp.
Salisu Musa, a coach, said that the opening match against Equatorial Guinea would not be easy.
He urged the Eagles to be focused in the match against Guinea national team.
Kabiru Ali, a footballer said the players need to improve on their finishing because their finishing in the last friendlies was not fantastic.
He said that the Eagles should not not underrate and not be carried away by the quality of players they have.
Bala Muhammad, a football administrator, urged the Eagles to play with determination and as a team, as the match would be tactical.
Muhammad urged Nigerians to support and pray for the team.
This is Equatorial Guinea’s fourth CAF Africa Cup of Nations appearance, but it’s only the second time they have qualified as non-hosts. They have so far always reached the knockout stages: quarter-finalists in 2012 and 2021, and 4th place in 2015.