AFCON: Jay Jay Okocha Backs Nigeria To Beat Hosts, Cote d’Ivoire

BY VICTOR OSOWOCHI – Nigeria Football legend, Austin Jay Jay Okocha is anticipating a tough clash today (Thursday) as Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on AFCON hosts, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire inside the resplendent Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe

According to the soccer great, who thrilled fans with scintillating skills in his heydays, though expecting a tough outing between both nations, there is this strong feeling that Coach Jose Peseiro’s managed Super Eagles can dig deep to squeeze out a win on the day

The former PSG and Bolton Wanderers midfield maestro said of the Group A AFCON pairing; “Absolutely! Every match is difficult but when you play the host country, it is even more difficult”.

He told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Website thus; “Of course, the beauty of football is that if you want to be champions, you have to win against the best and as we know, in football, every match is difficult.

“If you are well prepared, you have a chance of winning your match. But, we Nigerians, we know that it will be a difficult match but also, we believe that we have enough potential to be able to win this match.”

“My favorite [to win AFCON, of course, is Nigeria, naturally. Come on, we’ll wait and see”, Okocha added gleefully

Nigeria and Ivory Coast are pooled together in Group A in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals and a win for the hosts will seal their place in the knockout phase after their matchday one win over Guinea Bissau.

For the Super Eagles, who were shocked by minnows, Equatorial Guinea, in their opening 1-1 draw, they must remedy themselves with a victory to fancy the chance of progressing in this year’s competition.

Together with the Elephants, the Super Eagles are regarded among the continental tournament’s favourites owing to the quality of their squads and Okocha wishes the team well against the hosts who will certainly rely on the 12th man (fans) at home to cheer the playing unit to another vital win.

No doubt, Nigeria have so much pressure to get a better result going into today’s second Group A game given their several unconvincing performances coming into the tournament. For now, Côte d’Ivoire are Group leaders with three points following their comfortable 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the tournament’s opening match.

In the 2021 edition, the Super Eagles failed to get past the Round of 16 after winning all the group matches and the Peseiro’s men must bounce back from their missed chances against Equatorial Guinea to keep alive their hopes of advancing to the next round.