Ex-Eagles Defender Speaks On Nigeria’s Chances At AFCON 2023
With 86 days to prepare for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Atlanta ‘96 gold medallist, Abiodun Obafemi, has sent a note of warning to the Super Eagles.
The former defender hinted that it has always been a tradition for teams to put up their best performance when facing the Eagles.
While they avoided a confrontation against one of the North Africans, Jose Peseiro’s men were, however, handed a tricky start to their campaign with a game against the Elephants.
Nigeria have been paired in Group A alongside the hosts, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria, a three-time AFCON winner, will strive to clinch the title once again, having previously triumphed in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
The Eagles will begin their quest for their fourth title against the host at the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan in one the most highly anticipated game of the tournament’s group stage fixtures.
Speaking with newsmen, Obafemi said the Eagles faced a daunting challenge ahead of them as they are usually the target at every tournaments.
“Countries are always extra motivated to play us because of the pedigree of our players and it has always been like that and if care is not taken we might struggle at the AFCON,” he said.
“After the draws, our attention has been so much on the hosts but honestly I think the games against the Guineans are going to be tough and they might just be the stumbling blocks for us. They are going to be the teams that will give us bigger problems than the Ivorians. We just need to raise the level of our seriousness and take the game as war because we need to get it right in every department.
“We are the team to beat and every country wants to beat us because with the quality of players we have, every team in the world knows that we are a formidable side and they take us seriously.
“What to expect in Ivory Coast is exactly what we saw against Mozambique during our last friendly game. The smaller countries won’t respect us and they throw everything at us.”
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