Afrigather 
Nigeria haven’t reached the ultimate of the continental championships since lifting the trophy ten years in the past
Former RC Lens signing Benedict Akwuegbu has backed the Tremendous Eagles to achieve the ultimate of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Soccernet.ng stories.
Nigeria had been knocked out on the first knockout stage of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and haven’t completed within the final two spots on the match since beating Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the title in 2013.
Earlier than that triumph, the final time the Tremendous Eagles reached the ultimate was as co-hosts with Ghana in 2000.
Akwuegbu was a member of that squad that was overwhelmed to the trophy on penalties by Cameroon.
The previous Grazer AK striker believes Nigeria’s wait is over and that the Tremendous Eagles have sufficient about them to be among the many final two groups on the AFCON.
“I count on Nigeria to be a minimum of within the ultimate as a result of we now have glorious gamers within the staff,” Akwuegbu advised the New Telegraph.
“When you’ve gotten the likes of Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, and others like Boniface, who has been performing so properly within the German league, for me, we now have a incredible staff to win the title.
“Having stated that, we have to make our protection higher than we now have in the mean time; it must be higher. I’m optimistic that if issues go in accordance with plans, I feel we’re going to do properly on the AFCON.”
Whereas Nigeria boasts among the finest strikers on the continent, together with Africa Participant of the Yr Osimhen, the Tremendous Eagles have a scarcity of inventive midfielders, no-nonsense defenders, and competent goalkeepers.
Akwuegbu is satisfied that there are gamers within the Nigeria Skilled Soccer League that head coach Jose Peseiro can draft into the nationwide staff forward of the AFCON.
Akwuegbu added, “To be trustworthy with you, we have to have the home-based gamers within the Tremendous Eagles as a result of it’ll additionally inspire the gamers again house in Nigeria and make them give their finest within the league as a result of they may know that they’ve one thing to struggle for.
“Not permitting them to be a part of the nationwide staff will make them really feel not appreciated and this isn’t good for any participant. They may really feel that even when you performed higher than the most effective participant on this planet, they may nonetheless not look your means all since you are enjoying from house.
“Now we have some good home-based gamers that may match into the Tremendous Eagles particularly the world we’re missing. Speaking in regards to the assault, we’re excellent there, however we have to fortify our protection and likewise, we want a participant that may maintain and distribute the ball very properly, somebody that may change the route of the ball.
“Like I stated, we now have gamers that should be within the staff from the native league and I hope very quickly, they may get the chance.”
Nigeria will face hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea within the group stage of the AFCON.
