In the 2023 AFCON tournament, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in group stage matches.
Former Paris Saint-Germain star Austin Jay-Jay Okocha believes Nigeria’s Super Eagles have a good chance at the next African Cup of Nations, saysSoccernet.ng reported.
Okocha stressed that Nigeria is approaching the tournament with a winning spirit, despite past results that cast doubt on Nigeria’s ability.
However, José Peceiro’s team defeated Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 to take the lead in Group A and confidently book their ticket to AFCON.
However, recent concerns with just one win in the last four games have raised questions. However, Okocha remains super optimistic about his Eagles’ ability to win his fourth AFCON trophy, especially in Ivory Coast.
“I think we have a good chance at AFCON, just like other top nations. Whenever we go to a big tournament, we have a chance to do well. I think I will go into it with that mindset.” Okocha.
Nigeria will be in the same group as tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau for the group stage match.
Okocha spoke about team dynamics and emphasized the need for a balanced approach. He urged the team not to rely solely on the striker. He emphasized how important it is for the overall success for defenders to stay clean sheets.
“You shouldn’t always rely on the striker. If the striker doesn’t get the services he needs, he won’t be able to perform well, so you just need to ensure balance within the team. If we don’t try to achieve the seats, we may not win the games, so it’s up to the coaches to ensure we have the right balance and the right players to play for us in the AFCON. It’s work,” Okocha added.
The Super Eagles will prepare in Saudi Arabia before heading to Ivory Coast for the tournament as they hope to give Nigerian fans a reason to celebrate.
