The Super Eagles have started final preparations for tomorrow’s international friendly match against Saudi Arabia, which according to their officials, is part of the move to reclaim the African Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire next year.
Nigeria’s last triumph in Africa’s premier football championship happened in 2013 when the late Stephen Keshi’s team surprised pundits claim the crown in South Africa.
Since then, the best the Super Eagles have achieved is the bronze medal they won in Egypt 2019. At the last edition, the Eagles failed to scale the second round of the competition held in Cameroun.
Now, the team and their coaches are vehement in their insistence that Cote d’Ivoire 2024 is their turn to shine. They have started a campaign themed, ‘Let’s Do It Again,’ to underscore their seriousness with their quest for success.
The Eagles preparation for the big deal begins tomorrow in Portugal, where they will face Saudi Arabia in a test game.
Already, 26 players and their coaches are in Portugal preparing for the game against Saudi Arabia.
According to thenff.com, the campaign was proposed and unanimously adopted before the Eagles’ final AFCON 2023 qualification match against the Falcons and True Parrots of Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo last month, and was the basis for players and officials donning a tee-shirt with the inscription after the match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. The Eagles won that match 6-0.
Speaking on the campaign, Super Eagles’ Captain, William Troost-Ekong, said: “We like the phrase because it gives us confidence and the go-go push. We have done it before so we can do it again. Winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire is our goal and we have the team to do just that.”
Defender Kenneth Omeruo added: “I look around and I see players who have the capacity to make it happen. We are all ambitious. The team is a blend of old and wise heads and exciting new talents. We will go for the trophy in Cote d’Ivoire.”
The friendly against on Saudi Arabia will hold at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal, with the bulk of the squad that blew away Sao Tome and Principe on ground.
It is only the second time both countries will be clashing at senior international level. The only previous encounter was also a friendly, played in the Alpenstadion, Wattens in Austria on May 25, 2010 as part of final preparations for the Eagles for the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. Nwankwo Kanu, one of only two players to have featured for Nigeria at three different editions of the FIFA World Cup, captained the Super Eagles in that scoreless encounter.
Incidentally, current Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, was Coach of Saudi Arabia that day.
The Eagles have another friendly encounter on Monday, against the Mambas of Mozambique at the same venue, before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
