Former Nigerian winger, Tijani Babangida believes the current Super Eagles squad have what it takes to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
He made this known on the backdrop of the team’s qualification to the bi-annual tournament which will be hosted by Ivory Coast.
Recall that Nigeria defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 in Monrovia, Liberia thanks to a brace from Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho.
In a chat with Completesports.com, Babangida said that the team has an array of talents capable of winning the tournament.
“I am very optimistic the Super Eagles can win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations if they truly approach it with the right mentality.
“The crop of players in the team are very talented and can withstand any team at the tournament. Yes, it won’t come easy but I believe we can claim the trophy.”
22 Comments
Never. As long as it is largely the same squad immediately before COVID outbreak and with highly inconsistent performances since and no convincing friendly win in the last one year, NO MIRACLE within the next 6 months for mentally lazy players who know there will never be competition for their places will happen.
How many more matches will they need to blend again? Rule out Nigeria next year. What if Osimhen the only workaholic in the team is ruled out again?
What is even vexing me is that the squad still appears “youthful” wey no dey grow or allow new comers.
Na only osayi be the new one and people even dey ask for e predecessor sef.
I beg. No reason Nigeria until the old order perishes
YES FOR SURE, IF THE SELECTION OF PLAYERS IS BASE ON MERIT.
NO FAVOURISM FOR:
*** IRRELEVANT PLAYERS(Musa, Shehu,Etebo)
*** OLD/EXPERIENCE PLAYERS THAT CANNOT PLAY 90 MINUTES SUCCESSFULLY ON THE FIELD (Musa)
*** INCONSISTENT PLAYER( Omeruo, Ndidi, Iheanacho, Onyeka)
*** BENCH WARMER PLAYS(Aribo, Onuachu,Musa, Dennis)
Oh, you think that will happen? Sorry oh. No chance of trophy winning for Nigeria because it is too late to cry when head no dey again
If the home based were as good as ppl claim. They would have won back to back caf champions league or confederations cup.
The last two that won were Enyimba and BCC.
Statistics will show you that homebased Nigeria football is poor
*** WITH THIS AUDACIOUS SQUAD
1. ADELEYE- IZOHO- S.OSIGWE
2. EBUEHI- OSAYI- AINA
3. XAIDU- BRUNO ONYEMAECHI
4. ONYEDIKA- NDIDI
5. TROOST- AWAZIEM
6. AKPOGUMA- AJAYI
7. CHUKWUEZE- LOOKMAN
8. AKPOM-. MOFFI
9. OSIMHEN-. DESSERS- AWONIYI
10. IWOBI-. ELETU
11. SIMON-. ORBAN
THE LIKE OF: MUSA, OMERUO, IHEANACHO, ONUACHU, ARIBO BASSEY SHOULD BE DROP IF NIGERIA REALLY MEAN BUSINESS TO WIN AFCON.
***IN AFCON 2013,KESHI DROPPED BIG STARS LIKE:
AIYENUGBA, TAIYE-TAIWO, CHIBUZOR-OKONKWO, DANNY-SHITTU, KAITA, ADELEYE, OSAZE-ODENWENGIE, OBAFEMI-MARTINS, PETER-UTAKA,
#### PASEIRO, YOU TOO TAKE A RISK, HARDSHIP DECISION BY DROPPING BIG STARS, IRRELEVANT, BENCH-WARMER STARS OUT OF YOUR TEAM AND GIVE CHANCE FOR YOUNG-AGGRESSIVE, TOP-FORM, CONSISTENT PLAYERS.
***IF YOU FAIL TO DO THAT, YOU ARE PLAN TO FAIL WOEFULLY WITH EVERLASTING FAILURE RECORD.
IF YOU CANNOT LEARN FROM KESHI 2013 AFCON SQUAD, THEN LEARN FROM WHAT ARGENTINA AND FRANCE DID TO THEIR SQUAD. NO BENZEMA, NO AGUERO.
I KNOW IF IT IS YOU, YOU WILL SLOT THEM IN JUST LIKE THE WAY YOU NORMALLY SLOT IN AHMED MUSA (claiming to be giving young players advice).
WHY BENZEMA IS NOT SLOT-IN TO BE GIVING FRANCE TEAM ADVICE.
Why leave Vic Boniface bro. Otherwise nice squad.
PLEASE NOTE ALL CLAIMING AHMED MUSA IS CHEERLEADER IN THE SQUAD WE DO NOT NEED HIM OUT OF THIS SQUAD THE ONLY PLAYER WHO HAS PROVEN TO BE ABLE TO CARRY HIS CLUB TO CHAMPIONS TITLE IS OSIMHEN HE IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED PLAYER IN THE SQUAD NOT MUSA!..
I READ ONE NFF HEAD SAYING IGHALO PRESENCE IS MOTIVATION FOR THE LIKES OF OSIMHEN I STOPPED READING AFTER THAT AND COULDN’T STOP LAUGHING. I MEAN PEOPLE RUNNING OUR BALL REASON LIKE DICTATORS.
LOOK IT IS ONLY IN NIGERIA WHERE THAT KIND OF THING WILL BE SIAD. I MEAN OSIMHEN CARRIED NAPOLI IN SERIA A AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. WETTIN MUSA AND IGHALO WON TEACH AM AGAIN.
PLEASE PEOPLE NEED TO STOP THESE PEOPLE FROM PUTTING STUFF LIKE THAT TO MEDIA REALLY!
Nice squad but remove onyedika, ndidi, when was the last time ndidi performed well for Nigeria without Etebo, ve u guys watched, ur so called Onyedika plays so u think is better than Akinsanmiro of Inter Milan, guys pls remove sentiments and tribalism. I ve said this before I would say it again convert Aina to a midfielder just as England just converted Arnold to a midfielder. The combination of Akinsanmiro, Daga, Aina, Iwobi in our midfield is what we need. These are players with ball sense not those overhyped gra gra players.
This guy is such a loquacious dude!! He is always bragging twerka!
Shut up for once
And you think that non of our home base is good? Point of correction if you scout well you will find good players but Nigeria is all about who you know
@Agbo Max if they are good let them go and prove themselves in CHAN Eagles and Qualify. Make a name for themselves the right way and not by Ex Footballers decieving themselves and these poor homebase boys that they can compete with European players levels above them because let me tell you bro, Take NPFL strongest team and put against the weakest European league team lets say even Bulgarian league or Croatian league not to talk.of Russia and so forth even Saudi teams (that are considered levels below European teams) they, will be beaten black and blue now why must they try and punch above thier weight?
Why not try the best and most honest route to Europe like Etebo them?. I mean that’s how he made it. Let me tell you any player coming out from Nigerian League has to go through the education in Europe at a later age before grasping the technique we all enjoy watching week in week out and see from players playing ball in the top leagues? Etebo finally made it in Europe but unfortunately he couldn’t push further to the top elite like we see from Players like Osimhen Iheanacho, Awoniyi Chukwueze and co who got thier education from our Academies( Nigeria’s best hub for international export) and we’re lucky enough to get snapped up by big European teams early at young ages and get thier education in thier teens. And I must point out Academies in Nigeria a churning out talent like European talent season in seaon out so why is Ex Internationals rocking our head all the time about home based players?.. if it is not for financial gain. Guy @Agbo Max stop falling for thier treachery bro!!
AGAIN IF NPFL PLAYERS ARE GOOD ENOUGH LET THEM GO AND DOMINIATE CHAN AND CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIKE ENYEAMA DEM. AND PUT THIER MONEY WHERE THIER MOUTH IS BECAUSE, I TELL YOU ANY TEAM IN AFRICA THAT DOES THAT USUALLY HAS SOME SERIOUS GEMS AND XFACTOR PLAYERS THERE IN THEM PERIOD!. ..I.E ENYEAMA (Enyimba) Al Ahly Egyt ( Aboutrika).. i can go on and on. And even then Europe is still higher than those teams because some players who make it out of there still can’t make it in Europe..
Make una stop to dey deceive una self bikonu!!!
Even Gift Orban go and look if he has kicked a ball in Nigeriab NPFl?. Also found his way to Europe and worked his way through the ranks the right eay
VICTOR BONIFACE IS DOING THE SAME THING ORBAN AND ETEBO DEM DID. NOW WE ARE HEARING ABOUT HIM AT THE CORRECT TIME BECAUSE HE HAS MADE HIS NAME THE HONEST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY RIGHT WAY.
WHY NOT ALLOW THESE BOYS MAKE IT QUIETLY THAN PUSHING TALENTLESS PLAYERS FROM NPFL ON SE GAME IN GAME OUT FOR FINANCIAL BENEFIT WHICH FAILS ENVETUALLY BUT IT IS CLEAR THEY ARE ONLY LOOKING FOR THE INITIAL SIGN ON BONUS EVEN IF IT IS ALBANIA THEY DON’T CARE. YOU WANT EXAMPLES EJIKE UZOENYI, MICHAEL BABATUNDE MOST RECENTLY I DONT NEED TO MENTION GO AND SEE FOR YOURSELF THEY WILL JUST COME SIGN FOR SOME MUMU CLUB BY LUCK THESE EX PLAYERS TAKE THIER CUT AND THE HUSTLE CONTINUES THEN SOME FANS WILL COME HERE AND START SUPPORTING AND BELIEVING THIS EVIL! MTCHEEEEW!!!!
Let’s face it, what kind of selection criteria is there, to select Chan Eagles? And how serious minded are the NFF with the types of coaches they have? Nigeria will continue to suffer unless serious attention us given to football management in the country. Other Nations have woken up and are leaving us behind.
These ex- players are the problem of our football, never telling the truth. If tomorrow this same team fails, they would be the first to crucify them. The truth is this team cannot win anything. No defensive discipline,no tactical discipline and awareness,they still largely play as individuals even though most of them have been playing together for a long time- they don’t play as a team.
We still need to resolve some issues before we can start laying claim to winning anything. First, we need to resolve the issue of the midfield, defensive midfield- Ndidi is no longer the same player, goal keeping department ( all the keepers used so for are far from convincing), wing play- we need to look for competition for Chukwueze and Moses Simon who have both been underperforming in recent times Second, we need to inject new players into that team and lay off underperforming once- the Super Eagles is no ones birthright or entitlement. Third, we need a very very good and accomplished coach who have won laurels and knows what it means to win. Fourth, we need a discernable pattern of play- our own style.Fifth, NFF should do away with nepotism, ethnicity, sports politics, hand picking players out of favouritism and corruption.Sixth, stop unnecessary advocasy for home based players to take automatic slots in the team. Players, home and abroad, are all Nigerians and the best of the best should rep the national team. Seventh, NFF should aggressively develop our football infrastructure and embark on grassroot development through school cup competition such as principal cup, national under 10 12, 13, 15, 17 competitions to discover talents and on the other hand keeping eagle eye monitoring face on the same age group of players born abroad. They must look for talent and potential as yardsticks and not wait until they become stars before getting a look in, that’s where the problem lies.
Bro, it appears you are wasting your time advising NFF and ex eagles on the unpredictability of home based stars.
Okobi is not in the women’s world cup team because of home based shenanigans.
I read punch news headline today titled:
“Drama, politics behind Falcons’ World Cup list, preparations” and including home based women was the reason she was dropped.
Gusau never even use 1 year for e 4 years mandate. Na one chance we don enter
I think Juliet and Foloran analysised righly Nigerian football especillay Super Eagles position; ex veteran coach Stephen Keshi has made great overhaul on SE through Afcon. final tournament in South Africa 2013 he chanaged old team with new youth team cause he believe in youthness which will make incredible one, he has dumped from John Utaka,Osazie Odemwingie, Chibzor Okonkwo, Aiynugba, Onyekache Apam, Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche, Sani Kaita, and so on, then he has recalled new youth faces like Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Sunday Mba, Ogeny Onazi, Emmanuel Emmeniki; this team has won this tournament with dedication, decipline, good tactic,with good sponsorship by NFF; so I advice Peseiro to do like Keshi did so that he will go with Keshi’s steps; Peseiro must make overhaul on this team just like to dump Musa, Ndidi,Iheancho,Etebo,Uzoho,Moses Simon,Chukuwueze, William Troost,Ajayi, Awoniyie, Aina then he can recall new youthes like Alhassan Ibrahim, Daga,Caleb Okoli, Tosin Adarabioyo, Frank Onyedika, Anderson Esiti, Adeleye, Osigwe,Orban, Victor Boniface, Bruno Onyemaechi,Sanusi,tyronne Ebuehi, Osayi Samuel, Ademola Lukman, supported by Kennth Omuero, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Sadiq Umar; Pesiero also must make a new soul in SE with dedication and decipline, also must make a new strong and drastic defensive style of play , that means all players must defend when they loose the ball, defensive midfielders must play strong , pressing and orgnized football also back players; NFF must not interfer on coach selection of SE players on th Afcon. final in Cote De Ivore 2024; NFF must orgnize friendly matches for SE to setup for this tournament.On Nigeria football development NFF must inact a law on NPFL to be public sharing company, putting players public insurance, establish world class stadium , etsablish academies , make principle leauge club for age of 10 to 12 to 14 to 16 so that Nigeria can dicover new talented players. If Peseiro and NFF do these stratigies they will crop fruits of these plans.
@Hassan Tia you want him to drop Awoniyi and Chukwueze?. Even Ndidi?. Are you kidding me.
For what reason?. Incase you missed it did you see what Awoniyi did single handedly saving Nottingham forest from the drop? And Chukwueze who destroyed Real Madrid and got double figures in goals and Assist in La Liga and almost signing for AC Milan?. Guy you need to analyse football better.
And your AWONIYI that save SAMBISA FOREST sorry NOTHINHAM FOREST could not SINGLE HANDEDLY SAVE US from CRASHING OUT of LAST AFCON..
LMFAO…
Your CHUKWUEZE could not DESTROY GHANA in the last WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS…
GUY you are always missing the point…
I have always told you CLUB FOOTBALL is different from all this your CLUB FOOTBALL comparison…
@UGO IWUNZE
@MONKEY POST he is alot more experiences now and is alot of value coming on as an option for Vic Osimhen maybe in 10-12 mins in a competitive game or used in Game 3 of a tournament group stage as a super sub in knockouts. He will add alot more than Odion and Ahmed combined now with him And the likes of Orban and Boniface on the bench even if not Boniface but Orban our attack is set..
Chukwueze is a key player for Super Eagles right now whether you like it or not and with all the experience he has and if the move to AC Milan materializes at only 23 yrs will be a key figure for Super Eagles for Yeats to come as he has not even hit his prime potential yet and will still improve no better club than AC Milan.
There is talk of Milan Fans mouth watering at the prospect of Chukwueze on one wing and Leaõ on the other
Never seen a Super Eagles keeper as short as this Adeleye!
Nigeria has good footballers but not the culture, technical literacy and political will to win trophies. We will continue to watch the EPL on DSTV instead of an impoverished NPFL in a stinking stadium.
Ugo Iwunze I commented that Chukwueze and Awoniyi must be dumped and other players cause they are to unwisley and lamely on the goal scoring, see Chukwueze has wasted three goal chances on Super Eagles vs Sierra Leone, also Awoniyi always wastes many chances on his club; I think SE attack needs sharp and box to box attakers like Osimhen, Moffi, Boniface, Orban, Lookman, Sadiq Umar.