Eagles vow to fly over Thunder in 2023 AFCON opener today
Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea will conclude the first matches of Group A of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations ongoing in Cote d’Ivoire when both nations clash at the brand-new Stade Alassane Ouattare in Ebimpe, outside Abidjan, today.
Yesterday, Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa told thenff.com after the pre-match press conference that the Super Eagles have their eyes on the three points and have no apologies for their aspiration.
“It is always interesting to play in the Africa Cup of Nations. I was a champion in 2013, same as (defender Kenneth) Omeruo. However, the rest of the team want to have that feeling of what it means to win the Africa Cup of Nations. Everyone is geared towards making a statement.
“It is not going to be a picnic. The teams in our group, including
Equatorial Guinea that we play tomorrow, are strong and ambitious as well. It is for us to go all out for the three points in each of our games, and then take it from there in the knock-out rounds. We will take it one match at a time.”
This year’s final tournament is
Nigeria’s 20th appearance, having made her debut in 1963, and then appeared at the 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2019 and 2021 finals.
The competition is also holding in the country where Nigeria reached the Final on away ground for the first time, losing to an experienced and battle-hardened Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in the Ivorian capital.
Nigeria remains the country with the most podium appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations, having in addition to wins in 1980, 1994 and 2013, finished as runners-up in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000, and picked up the bronze medals in 1976, 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2019, making for a total of 15 podium appearances in 20 finals.