The West African giants have not won the continental championships in a decade, but they stand a good chance to claim a fourth triumph in Ivory Coast
Former Arsenal youngster Kelechi Nwakali believes the Super Eagles have the squad to beat any team they face at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in January, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria will trade tackles with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage of the AFCON.
Should the Super Eagles make it past Group A, they could need to beat some of the continent's finest – among which are defending champions Senegal, record winners Egypt, World Cup semifinalists Morocco, etc – to lift their first AFCON title since 2013.
Nwakali, though, is convinced Nigeria have the quality to match all the continent's big guns and has tipped the three-time winners to avoid the mistakes of previous years and go all the way.
“The Eagles chances are very bright considering the talents we have in every department of the team,” Nwakali told the Punch.
“I feel we've got a very good squad to win the AFCON. I believe our squad is capable of matching any team, but obviously it’s one thing having that and another being able to do that consistently throughout a tournament.
“We must start the tournament well by winning because doing that will give the team confidence, and we must not underrate any team.
“We must also take every game as a must-win and avoid the mistakes of the last edition. Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea won’t be pushovers because they are equally solid too, but the Eagles will be ready to reclaim their crown in Ivory Coast.”
Nwakali was a member of Nigeria's squad to the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, where the Super Eagles won all their three group games only to suffer a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the Round of 16.
The CD Chaves midfielder, who left Arsenal in 2019 without making a first-team appearance, has not been involved with the Eagles squad for almost two years.
Interestingly, the 25-year-old was included in the 40-man provisional list the NFF submitted to CAF ahead of AFCON 2023.
