The Super Eagles have won the competition three times, they will compete for the top prize when the tournament gets underway in Cote D’Ivoire.
Nigeria will be one of the 24 teams that will feature at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled between 13th January to 11th February.
The Super Eagles put their failure to qualify for the 2021 World Cup for the first time in more than a decade, behind them and secured a place at this tournament in an impressive manner, winning five games and losing only one to top Group A with six points.
Coach Jose Peseiro called up 25 players for the tournament, including Napoli’s striker Victor Osimhen who played a key role in the qualification, scoring 10 goals to emerge as the highest goals scorer. Many of the players featured prominently for their respective clubs before joining their team and are fully fit.
In a recent interview with NFF TV, Peseiro affirmed his side’s readiness for the tournament and stated that his team will not leave any stone unturned in their quest to qualify from their group which include Guinea Bissau, Equitoria Guinea, the host team, Ivory Coast and win the title.
“We will fight to win the Africa Cup even though it won’t be easy. Our group is not easy because we are up against the Ivory Coast, who have a good squad and are playing at home. Equatorial Guinea reached the quarter-final at the last AFCON, better than Nigeria, while Guinea Bissau beat us at home (in the qualifiers). We have to be at our best in our trainings and in our matches.”
The Super Eagles last achieved success at the tournament under the guidance of Stephen Keshi, winning it for the this time. They have struggled to reach that same hallmark and in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, they could not get past the Round of 16.
Nigeria played some international friendlies in an effort to prepare for the AFCON tournament. The former African champions lost 2-0 to Guinea in their last preparatory game in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The former champions will kick off their campaign in the competition against Equitoria Guinea on Sunday at Olympic Stadium Ebimpe.
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