Nigeria’s Super Eagles are Set to Play the 2023 Afcon final

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Samuel Chukwueze adamant ‘it is time to bring Afcon home’ to Nigeria but Jose Peseiro urged to change tactic against Ivory Coast.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to play the 2023 Afcon hosts Ivory Coast in the final and Samuel Chukwueze is confident of winning the trophy.

Content

  • Nigeria eliminated Bafana in semis
  • Ivory Coast played DR Congo in the last four
  • What Chukwueze is saying

Nigeria celebrate AFCON 2023

How Nigeria Reached the Final

The Super Eagles won two games and drew one in Group A, earning seven points and advancing as runners-up to Equatorial Guinea, who defied the odds to win the group with as many points and a higher goal difference.

In the Round of 16, Ademola Lookman’s brace was enough to give Nigeria’s Super Eagles a 2-0 win over Cameroon, and he scored against Angola to assist the 2013 Afcon champions win by a single goal and advance to the last four.

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After a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time against South Africa, Stanley Nwabali’s heroics in the penalty shootout enabled Nigeria advance to the final with a 4-2 win.

The hosts opened the competition with a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Group A. However, a 1-0 loss to Nigeria and a humbling 4-0 setback to Equatorial Guinea left the Elephants on the verge of elimination.

Zambia was eliminated by Morocco, while Tanzania was defeated by DR Congo, allowing Ivory Coast to go to the Round of 16 as one of the best losers.

The Elephants then astonished many by defeating reigning Afcon winners Senegal in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time. They subsequently defeated Mali 2-1 in the quarterfinals to advance to the last four.

In the semi-final, Ivory Coast, who are under interim coach Emerse Fae following Jean-Louis Gasset’s departure after their group stage campaign, beat DR Congo to progress to the final.

  • Ivory Coast played DR Congo in the last four

Samuel Chukwueze of Nigeria

  • What Chukwueze is saying

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Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze believes the Super Eagles have what it takes to win the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 2013.

“We are trying to recover and focus on the game on Sunday, the final against the host country,” the AC Milan attacker told reporters.

“I believe in this team; we’ve been fighting since the beginning of the competition, and it’s time to bring the trophy home.

“We have talked together as a group, we will keep working hard in training and ensure we will win the trophy.”

PESEIRO IS ADVISED TO CHANGE TACTIC.

Ex-Nigerian international Friday Ekpo believes Jose Peseiro’s strategy needs to change since Ivory Coast may have mastered it.

“Another game plan is needed other than the usual that has been used; this is the final and must be handled as one,” the retired midfielder told Complete Sports.

“They improved gradually, like every other squad. They maintained a strong battling spirit throughout the competition. I observed improvements from one match to the next, which is admirable. Overall, they are doing well and are ready to compete in the final.”

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