Amuneke Backs Eagles For 2023 AFCON Title

On Nov 4, 2023

Nigeria legend Emmanuel Amuneke believes the Super Eagles have the quality to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next year.

The Eagles have been continental champions three times in 1980 and 1994 with their most recent success coming under the late Stephen Keshi in 2013 in South Africa.

Nigeria, who have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, were knocked out in the last 16 at the previous edition of AFCON in Cameroon and Amuneke warns current Eagles boss Jose Peseiro to address some weak areas in the team.

Also read: Official match ball unveiled for AFCON 2023

“Nigeria is blessed with a crop of talented players, but we can’t go to the tournament merely thinking we can win because we have good players,” Amuneke told reporters.

“Winning AFCON is not about players – there’s a whole lot to be planned and implemented. The offensive players must also be a part of the defence, especially when the team is not in possession. The coach should take a holistic look at his team and find a solution to make them compete well against other teams.”

The former Eagles coach also added that more should be expected from Victor Osimhen after the striker finished eighth in the 2023 men’s Ballon d’Or.

The 24-year-old was the top African player in this year’s rankings and became the highest-placed Nigerian in the award’s selection since its inception in 1956, thanks a remarkable 2022-23 season in which he scored 26 Serie A goals to help Napoli win their first Italian title in 33 years.