The ex-captain with a long-standing history in the national team, John Obi Mikel, asserts that the present Super Eagles must do more than merely advocate the ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign. He emphasizes that they must be prepared to put in the hard work and defeat the continent’s big boys to win the coveted Africa Cup of Nations yet again.
Despite Nigeria’s illustrious history, the country has secured the prestigious continental trophy only thrice. These victories occurred in 1980 when the tournament was hosted in Nigeria, in 1994 in Tunisia, and in 2013, when John Obi Mikel played a crucial role in the Super Eagles triumph in South Africa.
The current Super Eagles, under the guidance of Coach Jose Peseiro, have embraced the rallying cry ‘Let’s Do It Again’ as they prepare for their final AFCON 2023 qualification match against Sao Tome and Principe’s Falcons and True Parrots. They aim to capture a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire early next year.
However, John Obi Mikel, the former midfield stalwart for Chelsea, who also played a significant role in the draw that placed Nigeria in a challenging Group A alongside the host nations Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea, emphasized that the Super Eagles need to prepare to defeat the powerhouses of African football to achieve their longed-for fourth title.
“We have to make sure we beat the big boys because to win this kind of trophy (AFCON Trophy), you have to be ready to play against the big boys; Senegal, Egypt, the Ivory Coast (Cot d’Ivoire), and Morocco,” hinted the 2012 UEFA Champions League winner with Chelsea. “We just have to be ready for these big games because we will eventually face them at some point during the tournament, and we must make sure we are ready for them.”
The 34th AFCON, which was postponed, is set to commence on January 13th with the opening match featuring Cote d’Ivoire against Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.
The Super Eagles will kick off their campaign on January 14th against Equatorial Guinea, followed by a match against the hosts on January 18th at the Stade Olympique Alassane Quattara in Abidjan. Their final group stage game will take place on January 22nd against Guinea-Bissau at the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny in Abidjan.