AFCON 2023: Odds favour the giants

EXCITEMENT is at fever pitch on the eve of the 2023 African Cup of Nations Finals, which get underway in five cities in Ivory Coast on Saturday. Reputed as the showpiece event on Africa’s sporting calendar, the eyes of the global football community will be riveted on the 34th Nations Cup in which Senegal will be defending the title they won in Cameroon in 2022, between January 13 and February 11. It promises to be dramatic, an emotional spectacle of delight and gloom for the fans. The odds favour the giants.

In all, 24 teams, drawn into six groups, are gracing the finals. Nigeria’s interest is represented by the Super Eagles. Along with Senegal, the hosts, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Cameroon, the Eagles are among the favourites tipped for the grandstand finish on February 11 in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital.

After the inaugural triumph at home in 1980, followed by other titles in Tunisia ’94 and South Africa 2013, optimism is high again among Nigerian fans. This is partly because the Eagles are one of the best teams on the continent. In the qualifying tournament, Victor Osimhen, the African Footballer of the Year 2023, led scoring with 10 goals. That sent Sadio Mané, the Senegal striker, into second place with five goals. But that optimism is on paper.

Nigeria’s preparations have been hit by injuries to key players, particularly to midfield anchor Wilfred Ndidi, and striker Victor Boniface. Another striker, Kelechi Iheanacho, is just recovering in time for the competition. This dampens the expectations.

In the run-up to the tournament, doubts have plagued Nigeria. Playing without purpose, the Eagles drew their first two qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coming from behind on the two occasions to Lesotho at home and Zimbabwe away. It led to talks of changing the coaching crew led by Portuguese José Peseiro. Peseiro might still get the sack depending on the team’s performance in Ivory Coast.

The Eagles are currently ailing in the goalkeeping department. It is not certain that area has been fixed in so short a time. Peseiro picked the bulk of team from Europe-based Nigerian players, including only Enyimba goalkeeper, Ojo Olorunleke. Another goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabili, is from Chippa United in South Africa. Nigeria lost 2-0 to Guinea in their last warm-up match on Monday in Saudi Arabia.

Credit to President Bola Tinubu for clearing the backlog of bonuses the Nigeria Football Federation owed the players and other teams, put at N12 billion. Why? On several occasions, bonus rows had truncated the progress of the Eagles in competitions.

Beyond the Eagles, there are a few teams projected to be at the business end of the tournament. Senegal, who beat Egypt on penalties in 2022, are among the favourites again. If they retain the trophy, the Terranga Lions will join the exclusive club of Egypt (twice), Ghana and Cameroon, who have retained the trophy. The hosts cannot be discountenanced as well, having top players across Europe.

With Mo Salah, Mo Elneny and Mahmoud Trezeguet, Egypt, who won the inaugural championship in 1957, and six titles altogether, are in the running. Cameroon, the first African team to play a World Cup quarterfinal match at Italia ’90, could shake things up.

Also consider Algeria and Morocco, whose sole win was in 1976 in Ethiopia. A well-coached team with top professionals, the Atlas Lions made remarkable history at Qatar 2022, defeating the likes of Belgium, Spain, and Portugal to become the first team from Africa in the semifinals.

Let the games begin!

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).