Former Nigerian international Benedict Akwuegbu believes Nigeria is the team to beat at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire based on the form most of our players have hit for their respective European clubs.
In an exclusive chart with sportsville.ng from his base in the United Kingdom the former RC Lens striker said the current Super Eagles Squad parades some of the best players in the world and can be unstoppable at the 2023 African Cup Of Nations if properly assembled.
” This could be our best chance to win a 4th African Cup Of Nations crown if the team is properly tutored. A team that parades the best player in the Italian Serie’A Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi is having a good run with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, Victor Boniface as we speak is highly rated in the German Bundesliga while Terem Moffi have also hit the ground running in the French Ligue 1. These is the kind of form you would want your players to be going into a major tournament as the nations cup.
” Our forward line will trouble any team in the world at this time with the right formation and this could also cover for our not too firm defensive pairings.
Akwuegbu who was part of the Super eagles squad to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea Japan however, expressed his lack of confidence in Eagles coach Jose Peseiro to deliver the AFCON tittle in Cote d’Ivoire in January.
” I don’t know on what grounds the NFF decides to extend Peseiro’s contract, but I like the fact that they are smart enough to make it a six months deal that ends with the AFCON. The coach has not shown the capacity to deliver against top teams and very fresh on my mind was how the eagles were easily decimated by Portugal in an international friendly in Lisbon last year. Yes, we might have the players, but you also need a technically sound manager to win major tournaments.
The Super eagles who defeated Sao Tome and Princeipe 6-0 in a dead rubber AFCON qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo has been scheduled to play Saudi Arabia in an international friendly on October 13th in Portugal. The Match according to the Nigerian Football Federation will serve as preparatory for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers which begins in November.
