By Abubakar Yunusa
THE Super Eagles’ AFCON campaign kicked off with a stumbling draw against Equatorial Guinea, marking Nigeria’s fourth draw in five games, with one loss to Guinea.
Now, Jose Peseiro’s squad faces Ivory Coast, the host country, fresh from their 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
The Eagles, who last tasted victory in September 2023 against Sao Tome and Principe, must overcome their winless streak or risk being under immense pressure in the competition.
Peseiro emphasizes the need for clinical finishing after the Equatorial Guinea draw.
Ivory Coast, buoyed by a home crowd, displayed dominance in their opening win. Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso secured a comfortable victory. Despite missing key players due to injury, the Elephants aim to maintain momentum.
In contrast, Nigeria grapples with poor form, relying on Victor Osimhen’s intervention for a draw against Equatorial Guinea.
Peseiro criticizes the team’s wastefulness but sees the silver lining in the chances created.
Having clashed 27 times, Ivory Coast holds a slight edge with nine wins against Nigeria’s eight, while ten encounters ended in a stalemate.
The last AFCON meeting saw the Super Eagles secure a 2-1 victory in 2013, with a reversal in the 2008 group stage.
Team news reveals doubts over Simon Adingra and Sebastien Haller’s availability, while Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana aim to exploit a midfield without Alhassan Yusuf. Peseiro considers lineup changes, pinning hopes on Victor Osimhen to lead the Super Eagles to a crucial win.
Abubakar Yunusa, Freelance journalist, writes from Abuja