By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Dennis Erezi
Published on 2024-01-17 12:45:35
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are aiming to kick off their push for a fourth African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy by taking on Ivory Coast in their second group game. After starting their 2023 AFCON campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in a group A match on Sunday, Nigeria is determined to secure a win against the hosts, Ivory Coast, on Thursday.
A victory against Ivory Coast is crucial for the Super Eagles to advance in the 2023 AFCON, and avoiding defeat could make history repeat itself. The Eagles previously won the AFCON trophy in Nigeria in 1980, Tunisia in 1994, and South Africa in 2013, each time avoiding defeat against Ivory Coast.
The history between the two teams dates back to the 1980 AFCON when they first clashed at the National Stadium, Surulere in Nigeria, resulting in a 0-0 draw. This mirrored Nigeria’s previous performance against Equatorial Guinea in the 2023 tournament, where they went on to win the championship for the first time.
In 1994, Nigeria and Ivory Coast faced off in the semi-finals, which ended in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Nigeria emerged victorious, eventually defeating Zambia 2-1 in the final, securing their second crown. Then, in 2013, on their journey to a third AFCON triumph, the Eagles defeated the Elephants 2-1 in a quarter-final match, with Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba scoring for Nigeria.
As Nigeria aims to break their four-game winless streak against Ivory Coast, they will seek to improve on their recent performances, which include draws with Lesotho and Zimbabwe, a loss to Guinea, and a draw with Equatorial Guinea in World Cup qualifiers and friendlies.
The upcoming match against Ivory Coast at the 2023 AFCON provides an opportunity for the Super Eagles to continue their legacy of success in the tournament and make strides towards adding a fourth AFCON trophy to their collection.
Read the original article on The Guardian
