is a popular saying, “If you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk, especially in the world of sports.”
Ten years after their last triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, the Super Eagles are yearning for another AFCON title again in Ivory Coast.
The Eagles are paired in Group A alongside hosts, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria won the 1980 edition of the AFCON on home soil, before going on to win the 1994 and 2013 editions in Tunisia and South Africa respectively.
The team, through the assistant captain William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo, said they had adopted the catch-phrase ‘Let’s Do It Again’ as their battlecry towards winning a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Ivory Coast early next year.
“We like the phrase because it gives us confidence and the go-go push. We have done it before, so, we can do it again,” Troost-Ekong said.
“Winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast is our goal and we have the team to do just that.”
Omeruo added, “I look around and I see players who can make it happen. We are all ambitious. The team is a blend of old and wise heads and exciting new talents. We will go for the trophy in Ivory Coast.”
But with recent developments, it will take more than just the mantra to convince Nigerians that the team can go on to win the title for the fourth time.
In fact, the Eagles’ last two outings against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique last Friday and Monday respectively showed that there was more work to be done, if they were to emerge champions in Ivory Coast.
Against the Green Falcons, Jose Peseiro’s men were unconvincing, especially at the back.
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho put up a poor display, conceding four goals in both games and has been heavily criticised for the performance, but the entire team was far from convincing and with just one international break before the AFCON in January, the Eagles’ ability to deliver on the big stage has been questioned.
Olympic gold medallist, Abiodun Obafemi, in a chat with , said the Eagles must raise their game if truly they want to stand a chance of doing it again as they claimed.
“Honestly, the Eagles need to raise their game going by what I saw in their last two friendly matches,” he said.
“They didn’t play badly against Saudi Arabia but they were not converting their chances, which is something they must work on. We have a lot of super strikers and I think we should be scoring loads of goals because when you keep throwing away chances like that you will get punished.
“We were a class above Saudi Arabia, which everybody expected, but the game against Mozambique was a minus for me. They played badly and these are teams we should be beating comfortably if we are truly serious about winning the AFCON. Beyond the results, the performance wasn’t top-notch, especially the goalkeeping department, and I must say that we have a lot of work to do.”
Akin Abiodun, a fan, however, feels the performance could be a blessing in disguise.
He tweeted, “It is good we are having these uninspiring matches now so we can moderate our expectations in competitive ones.”
Chinex Jennie said, “Egypt, Senegal, Morocco and Algeria will humiliate you people in AFCON. Uzoho conceding from three free kicks in four days is hilarious. Our league can produce a far better goalkeeper.”
Abayomi Santiago added, “Mozambique were shown red card yet we allowed them to score. Please is this how you guys are going go to play at the AFCON? I don’t get what’s going on with this Super Eagles, always disappointing. Mozambique that should have conceded between seven to 10 goals, we allowed them to play us this way.”
As doubts surround the Eagles’ ability as the AFCON approaches, the team has the great task of proving to Nigeria that they truly can go on to win the title again after 10 years.
