The former Barcelona ace won the continental championships eight years ago and has tipped the Elephants to repeat the feat on home soil
Former Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has tipped his country to host and win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Toure, who won the 2015 AFCON with Ivory Coast, also believes Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Morocco, and South Africa will be the major contenders for the title in January.
Interestingly, Nigeria have been drawn together with Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in Group A at the AFCON, with Equatorial Guinea completing the quartet.
Only two teams can advance from the group stage to the Round of 16.
With Toure backing Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau to be in the mix during the latter stages of the competition, the former Manchester City man does not see the Super Eagles making it out of Group A.
Nigeria not only boast the Africa Player of the Year in their fold, but the Super Eagles also scored the most goals during the qualifying campaign.
However, in explaining the rationale behind his choice of favourites, Toure revealed he fancied teams that impressed during the qualifiers would bring their momentum to Ivory Coast in January.
“It’s normal to have a preference for your own country,” Toure said, as per Afrique Sports.
“Côte d'Ivoire has a strong team and many talented and experienced players.
“But if I had to choose the teams I think are favourites, I’d say Senegal, Morocco, Guinea-Bissau, and South Africa. They had an impressive qualifying campaign.”
Nigeria have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times. In 19 previous appearances, the Super Eagles have only exited the tournament at the group stage twice – in 1963 and 1982.
You’re has a point there
you really don’t merit a reply because of your extremely poor command of the English language .
Toure by the way is a simple fool who knows nothing about football Nowadays. He is retired and should keep his stinking mouth shot.
Cut him some slack, mate. The English Language may not be his first language besides English Language isn’t a measure of success nor intelligence. Now, to the topic, I don’t think Yaya Toure means any disrespect to the Super Eagles, if anything he understands the rivalry and knows Super Eagles are one of the strong favourites and therefore are a threat to the ambition of the Ivory Coast winning the AFCON on home soil. So, what I see here is just a mind game which is very normal in football. It’s up to the Super Eagles now to prove him wrong.
Well said, after all talk is free and heap.
We should reply him n the field.
Hmm, how could you possibly call Toure a fool who knows nothing about football these days because he has retired? He said his thoughts, you don’t need to insult him. He is a legend and also knows football far better than you.
For him not to support Nigeria is a Plus for super Eagles, no Ivorian had EVER supported Nigeria before in anything, I remember 2013 in South Africa, they were already celebrating their win against Nigeria even before the ball was kicked, including their big mouthed journalist Mamadou,they all went home eating humble pies,
I foresee the same thing in January.
Victor osimen is Africa footballer of the year but Mamadou is too blind to see it. he supported a Moroccan . So Yaya you don’t suprised me at all. You all will NEVER EVER see the greatness of Nigeria because of envy and jealousy.
why Yaya against Nigeria! yes but we know that soccer now is different the way Jay Okocha played and Kanu. And Ivoly Coast a team that is populated with big players but can not do exceptionary . I think its a Joke not real ,soccer changes Toure.
patrick
You’ won African football of the year in 2013 ahead of Mikel Obi who was better and won a lot for that year but you celebrated it
the following season when same criteria was used to knock you out,you cried foul ….
A jealous guy ..kudos to Didier.and others …who can see better…
Will he play for the two countries he has chosen above Nigeria It is the end that tell.
I don’t think Ivory Coast will win it.
I think this good for Nigeria.write us off at your peril
However it also serve as a wake up call to the coaches and players.Good luck Nija.
Yes, my country Nigeria will fail because of poor choice of players especially especially goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. Our best goalkeeper Jonathan Rasheed has not been invited. Also Adam Akor is missing
Well it’s not a fight at all, it’s only an opinion which every body is right to, it’s only a wake up call for Nigerian footballers one love nija
Only time will reveal who wins the Winner of the African Cup of Nations tournament in February 2024 in Ivory Coast. Only time will tell. Simple as it is, regardless of anyone’s prediction of which country will win it. Peace…✌️
It will shock Yaya how Ivory Coast will be eliminated in the group stages…
Nigerians are too obsessed of this African player win, it’s time they must know that other countries had won it 3 to 4 times but they didn’t made such noise Nigerians are making, Even Liberia had won the whole world footballer of the year before but no noise, Also Nigerians must know that, winning African Footballer doesn’t make it automatically win of a tournament, it doesn’t change anything
Not sure what the hell you are talking about. Amu eke won it, Kanu won it and no Nigerian is making any noise. if the internet existed in 1995, liberians will be on the internet shouting about it, so be quiet. Nigeria has a good team that wants to prove everything. osimhen missed the last Afcon and he is back.
in this group a no any team can stop super eagles of Nigeria
From the latest ranking and lack Lustre performance of the Super Eagles for next world cup qualification, Yaya Toure may not be far off from stating the truth which is bitter.
Do we have a coach at moment? The man that had attended interviews for his next job and merely waiting for this fiesta to end. Read what the coach said when we drew with a country, Lesoto! in last match. He said that there was conspiracy against his team because the powers that be wanted South Africa to lead the group. What a silly excuse! Eleven players against eleven players!!!
We are waiting for the miracles to happen in another few weeks time.
I am a Nigerian and I don’t trust this squad. I think Yaya Toure might be right. We don’t have a formidable team and a determined team. I think NFF should be overhauled, the NFF president should be sacked, the goal keeping department is appalling, no reliable midfielders, we are only going to rely on the wingers and most of the team have understudied this Nigeria team. We are failing to address some underlying issues pertaining to technicalities, cryonism, corruption, poor planning, lackadaisical attitude in Nigeria football, and maladministration. It will be a miracle if we succeed in this tournament. Nobody is seeing it and saying anything, it is so sad. Over-reliance on foreign based players, I believe NFF is still owing the coach but why?
With all due respect to Yaya toure, he’s a joker. Firstly, from group a, ivory coast and nigeria would make it out of the group. Secondly, the Ivorian would exit the tournament in the quarter final. Finally, I see senegal, Cameroon , Egypt and nigeria a winner of the showpiece.
Congratulation Yaya Toure.
Ivory Coast is about to be eliminated from the group because Equatorial Guinea will come for draw in the next match. Those guys will be ready to die on the pitch