A Nigerian top manager in the Finnish league, coach Moshood Bola Abdulaziz, believes the Super Eagles have the potentialities to win the forthcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be hosted in Cote d’Ivoire, adding with good preparations, the elements can come together for the country’s long awaited fourth title.
Nigeria won the last of her three titles a decade ago at South Africa 2013 with a team led by late coach Stephen Keshi but Abdulaziz hinted it’s about time the Super Eagles add another title to their haul which included after two other wins on home soil in 1980 and Tunisia 1994.
“ Frankly, I think that Nigeria can win the next AFCON,” Abdulaziz, a UEFA Pro A holder, told NationSports in a wide ranging interview. “ We have the capacity and Nigeria will be counting on our players; we are counting on them and praying for them to deliver.”
Drawn in what is regarded as a tricky group along with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau, Abdulaziz said the Super Eagles can brush aside their Group A rivals , adding the coach Jose Peseiro-led side should play each match like a cup final without underrating any of their contenders.
“ In Africa today, you cannot underrate any country and this is a huge challenge because no country is bigger than any other country as far as football is concerned, “ he continued.“ It’s been long that we won the AFCON and I believe time has come for that Nigeria to win the trophy again
“We have enough quality players and i just hope that they work harder, it’s very important for us to win the AFCON.”
He added: ”It was unfortunate that Super Eagles did not make it to World Cup and I saw the comments all over the world with people angry that Nigeria didn’t make it
“People are eager to see Nigeria succeed and I am praying that the Super Eagles succeed at this upcoming AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.”
Meanwhile, Abdulaziz has spoken more on his ground-breaking successes across clubs in Finland even as he charted ways on how Nigerian football can benefit from his expertise. Watch out.
