Afrigather 
The previous PSG and Bolton Wanderers midfielder has been probably the most outstanding African heroes having fun with the reside actions on the continental championships
Former Nigerian worldwide Austin Okocha has revealed to the Tremendous Eagles the principle keys to beating Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, Soccernet.ng reviews.
Nigeria will commerce tackles with hosts Cote d’Ivoire of their second Group A match on the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Each groups, among the many favourites to dethrone Senegal as African champions, have high quality in abundance with Europe-based stars throughout each division of the pitch.
Okocha, who has been in fixed contact with the Tremendous Eagles and was lately captured dancing with Nigerian gamers of their dressing room, believes the staff has what is required to beat any opponent on their day.
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The 1994 AFCON winner, nevertheless, admits it will be troublesome for Nigeria to defeat an Ivorian facet who’re the hosts and claimed a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau of their opening match.
Nonetheless, Okocha is satisfied the Tremendous Eagles can win with the proper mindset.
“I believe what the important thing shall be is expertise, need, and frame of mind,” Okocha mentioned, as per Kenya Star.
“For me, they’re professionals, they usually know the significance of this match; I believe their mindset would be the key.
“Each match is troublesome, however while you play the host nation, it’s much more troublesome. However, in fact, the fantastic thing about soccer is that if you wish to be champions, it’s a must to win towards the very best.
“In case you are nicely ready, you have got an opportunity of successful your match. However, we Nigerians, we all know that it is going to be a troublesome match but additionally, we consider that now we have sufficient potential to have the ability to win this match.”
To win, Nigeria will rely on the superb goal-scoring skills of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
Regardless of the presence of Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi, and Kelechi Iheanacho, Osimhen stays the probably candidate to steer the assault for the Tremendous Eagles.
Osimhen scored the Tremendous Eagles’ solely objective in Nigeria’s lacklustre 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea of their opening match.
Okocha has confidence in Osimhen’s prowess, however the PSG playmaker has charged the staff to create the possibilities the striker wants to fireside Nigeria to victory.
“We all know that Victor Osimhen is a world-class goalscorer, a really nice participant. He wants the companies of his staff and I consider he received them within the first match,” Okocha added.
“It’s not on a regular basis that we see him miss clear alternatives. I believe he’s desperate to appropriate his errors and with him, now we have hope and we consider in him as a result of we all know he’s able to shining in any competitors.”
Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire have met thrice on the group stage of the AFCON, with all of the video games being cagey affairs.
Nigeria has one win (1-0 in 1990), misplaced one (0-1 in 2008), and settled for a goalless draw on the 1980 event.
