John Mikel Obi has said the Super Eagles are among the favourites to clinch the title at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Jose Peseiro’s men will be looking to win a fourth title when hostilities start in Cote d’Ivoire in January.
Mikel, who was part of the side that conquered Africa in South Africa 10 years ago, claimed the Super Eagles will always go into the AFCON as favourites.
“We are always favourites, this is every time we go into the tournament and it’s no different this time,” the former Chelsea midfielder told CAFonline.
“Everyone knows that we are one of the favourites – not the massive favourite but definitely one of the favourites.”
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A fourth AFCON title for the Super Eagles would be a massive achievement for the African powerhouse who have contributed significantly to the rich history books of the tournament over the years – lifting it in 1980, 1994 and 2013.
They were also runners-up in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000.
“To be able to do it again will be a massive achievement for us which I think the country needs right now as well. We need to get our football back where it should be and by winning this tournament, it will take it back to where it should be”, urged Mikel.
The Super Eagles will kick-off their campaign on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea before facing the hosts four days later in what will be a repeat of the 2013 edition quarter-final that saw them overcome Cote d’Ivoire 2-1.
They conclude the Group A campaign with a tie against Guinea-Bissau on January 22.
3 Comments
We’ve not even taken the numerous bronzes into account. 8 in total.
3 golds, 4 silvers, 8 bronzes.
With better administration, a lot more of those silvers and bronzes could have been gold.
For sure, it’s a really solid Afcon record.
But all that is in the past. When the Afcon kicks off, and the ref blows the whistle, it’s 11 vs 11.
With Peseiro usual 4-4-2. Playing up to 3 strikers upfront, SE go suffer and it will only take grace of God for them to get out of the group stage.
Only team who has good midfielders and technical wingers can play 4-4-2 and function perfectly but we lack those. However we have good wing backs. So we just need to put more bodies in the midfield, 3 center backs 5 from the midfield supported by the wing backs and Ihaenacho to pair Osimhen upfront or Boniface
Ihaenacho or Boniface to pair Osimhen upfront. Ndidi, Iwobi. Either Onyedika, Yusuf or Onyeka should be the 3rd man in the midfield.
The Coach should pls avoid starting or using likes of Chukwueze and Aribo otherwise dem go spoil match for us. Until they’re truly ready to do well for the National Team. Most especially Chukwueze.
We can’t change this Coach mind about his favorite players otherwise, i would have suggest he give that Fisayo more chance because we’re too light in the midfield and lacking creativity. We can only advocate change of pattern and formation if dem go hear