“I expect Nigeria in the final” – Former RC Lens lad tips Super Eagles to excel at 2023 AFCON

Nigeria have not reached the final of the continental championships since lifting the trophy ten years ago

Former RC Lens signing Benedict Akwuegbu has backed the Super Eagles to reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Nigeria were knocked out at the first knockout stage of the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and have not finished in the last two spots at the tournament since beating Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the title in 2013.

Before that triumph, the last time the Super Eagles reached the final was as co-hosts with Ghana in 2000.

Akwuegbu was a member of that squad that was beaten to the trophy on penalties by Cameroon.

The former Grazer AK striker believes Nigeria’s wait is over and that the Super Eagles have enough about them to be among the last two teams at the AFCON.

“I expect Nigeria to be at least in the final because we have excellent players in the team,” Akwuegbu told the New Telegraph.

“When you have the likes of Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, and others like Boniface, who has been performing so well in the German league, for me, we have a fantastic team to win the title.

“Having said that, we need to make our defense better than we have at the moment; it needs to be better. I am optimistic that if things go according to plans, I think we are going to do well at the AFCON.”

While Nigeria boasts some of the best strikers on the continent, including Africa Player of the Year Osimhen, the Super Eagles have a shortage of creative midfielders, no-nonsense defenders, and competent goalkeepers.

Akwuegbu is convinced that there are players in the Nigeria Professional Football League that head coach Jose Peseiro can draft into the national team ahead of the AFCON.

Akwuegbu added, “To be honest with you, we need to have the home-based players in the Super Eagles because it will also motivate the players back home in Nigeria and make them give their best in the league because they will know that they have something to fight for.

“Not allowing them to be part of the national team will make them feel not appreciated and this is not good for any player. They will feel that even if you played better than the best player in the world, they will still not look your way all because you are playing from home.

“We have some good home-based players that can fit into the Super Eagles especially the area we are lacking. Talking about the attack, we are very good there, but we need to fortify our defense and also, we need a player that can hold and distribute the ball very well, someone that can change the direction of the ball.

“Like I said, we have players that deserve to be in the team from the local league and I hope very soon, they will get the opportunity.”

Nigeria will face hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage of the AFCON.