2023 AFCON: Five reasons why Nigeria can win the title
From defensive displays to prolific forwards, here are five reasons the Super Eagles could win it all at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Football
Nigeria have booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations being held in Côte d'Ivoire.
The Super Eagles have been crowned champions of this prestigious competition on three different occasions, the last coming in 2013.
With decorated former winners Egypt and Cameroon out, as well as fan favourites Senegal and Morocco, could this be the year Nigeria put themselves back on top?
Ahead of their last four clash with South Africa, Olympics.com takes a look at five reasons the Super Eagles could be crowned AFCON Champions.
A favourable run
It would be a disservice to teams remaining in the competition to ever suggest there are any easy games, least of all in a tournament setting when everything is largely unpredictable. You just need to look at Egypt, AFCON’s most successful side with seven titles, exiting before the quarter-finals after a tense penalty shootout with DR Congo.
After sweeping aside five-time winners Cameroon, however, José Peseiro’s men will be glad to have avoided a clash with another one of the tournament favourites - for now. In fact, it was only Côte d'Ivoire - one of the sides tipped to be crowned winners - that reached the semi finals. Nigeria - meanwhile - ranked 42nd in the world, saw off 117th-ranked Angola for a spot in the final four. With a tournament favourite already guaranteed to be knocked out before reaching that stage, the Super Eagles may well be fancying their chances of winning a fourth AFCON title.
Osimhen is just getting started
Nigeria have a whole host of talent in their squad, notably in the attacking positions from the likes of Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho; none more notable, however, than Victor Osimhen. The prolific forward was always going to be one to watch heading into the tournament, but his first real statement of the tournament came in the round of 16 against Cameroon with a standout display.
The Napoli talisman had nine Serie A goal involvements - seven goals, two assists - coming into AFCON, and is gradually applying that form as his country progress. Despite Lookman’s brace to see the Super Eagles past Cameroon to reach the last eight, many of the plaudits fell to fellow frontman Osimhen whose relentless work paid off, setting up his countryman for the opener. Nigeria themselves have grown into the competition after a draw in their curtain raiser, and that will no doubt benefit Osimhen, who will be looking to add to his goal tally of one so far.
Resolute at the back
There is a very famous quote from legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson that reads: “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.” While the Super Eagles haven’t been scoring a plethora of goals, it is their resolute defensive displays that gives them plenty of reason to believe in going all the way.
They are the only team in the competition right now to have kept four clean sheets, with Morocco and Senegal - already knocked out - behind them on two. In fact, since conceding a 36th-minute strike to Equatorial Guinea in their opening game of the group stages, shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali has not allowed anything past him. The keeper is seemingly an injury doubt following their win over the Indomitable Lions, but an equally solid showing from Nigeria’s defensive unit will no doubt give them security at the back regardless of who is between the sticks, should Nwabali be unable to feature.
A point to prove
In 2022, Nigeria made history - but not for the reasons they would want to. For the first time in 16 years, the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. After qualifying for the tournament consecutively since USA 94, their absence was disappointing fans and staff alike.
It therefore makes sense that, coming into their next major tournament in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, that they use it as a chance at redemption. Not only for the players and the coaching staff, but to give their fans something to cheer about after missing out on 2022’s showpiece. They have certainly started well with just the one goal conceded as they make their way through the tournament, and missing out on Qatar 22 may just have them that extra push to prove that they’re still a force to be reckoned with.
History on their side
Nigeria know exactly what it takes to win the Africa Cup of Nations. They know how to navigate the knockout rounds and put themselves in contention. The Super Eagles are simply no stranger to the competition’s finale.
They have made the final on seven different occasions, winning it thrice, the last of which came in 2013. They have finished third on eight different occasions, however, reaching the semi-finals in 2019 when they beat Tunisia to the podium.
With such a rich history in this tournament, it can be expected that the Super Eagles use their know-how to navigate the remaining stages and put their nation back on top.