Expectations on how the Super Eagles will fare at the 2023 AFCON are a lot more subdued than usual on the back of a run of poor results recently.
The three-time African champions have failed to win their last five matches leading up to the big AFCON kick-off this weekend.
They drew with Saudi Arabia and DR Congo in friendlies in October, before they were also pegged back by Lesotho and Zimbabwe in 2026 World Cup qualifiers in November.
They then lost 2-0 to fellow AFCON finalists Guinea in a final warm-up game in Dubai Monday.
The Eagles were also not super at the last tournament in Cameroon, where they were ousted in the Round of 16 by Tunisia after they had topped their first round group.
In addition, the chances of the team have been dealt a massive blow by injuries to key players Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar.
From a lingering goalkeeping problem, the Eagles have been plunged into a strikers’ crisis as the team have lost Boniface and Sadiq Umar to injury, while Kelechi Iheanacho has had to fast track his recovery from a muscular injury at his English club.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have handed a semifinal target for the team, while coach Jose Peseiro has maintained they can go all the way in Cote d’Ivoire.
“If they have a good balance in the team and the team spirit is good, they can bring home a medal,” predicted former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr.
‘Quicksilver’ Sylvanus Okpala won an AFCON winners’ medal 10 years ago as assistant coach after he did so as a player in 1980.
The mercurial midfielder said the current team have the quality to be champions again.
“We have the players to do it again, seasoned players who are doing well in Europe.
“When we won in 2013, many of the players were playing the competition for the first time, but this team have players who have a lot more experience.
“If these talented players are managed properly, we can do it again.”
The Super Eagles are drawn in Group A with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
They open their campaign Sunday against Equatorial Guinea by 3pm in Nigeria.
“Winning your first game is very important,” said former international Garba Lawal.
“This will ease the pressure on the team and also boost confidence leading up to the second game.”
Equatorial Guinea reached the quarterfinal of the 2021 tournament, a round farther than Nigeria achieved.
Many believe that their second group game against the host nation on January 18 will determine the overall winners of Group A, before a final first round tie against Guinea Bissau four days later.
“It will be difficult, but I expect Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire to qualify from Group A,” previewed Olawale Ayeni.
“Three-time champions Nigeria have the deadliest attack led by Victor Osimhen, the best African Player of 2023.”
Overall winners of Group A will take on third best losers from Group C, D or E, while the runners-up face runners-up from Group C in the knockout Round of 16.
