“Talk is cheap” – Barcelona star backs Super Eagles to disappoint Yaya Toure, impress at the 2023 AFCON

The former Manchester City midfielder is convinced three-time winners Nigeria are not among the favourites to win the continental championship next month

Super Falcons and Barcelona Ladies forward Asisat Oshoala has taken a firm stance against Ivorian football legend Yaya Toure's recent prediction regarding Nigeria's performance in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigeria will compete in Group A at the AFCON alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea.

Ivory Coast (two titles) and Nigeria (three titles) are the only former champions in the group and the favourites to qualify for the knockout rounds.

However, Ivorian legend Toure backed his country and Guinea-Bissau to make it past the group stage and reach the latter phases of the competition.

Still, Oshoala is not impressed by Toure's submission.

In a chat with Brila FM, the six-time Africa Women Player of the Year dismissed Toure's skepticism while backing Nigeria's talented strikers to lift the Super Eagles to glory.

“Talk is cheap. When we get to the tournament, we will separate the boys from the men,” Oshoala said.

“Why not? We have the almighty Osimhen, the best player in Africa; we have Boniface doing well at club level. I feel like we have a good team; it's not about individual talent.

“I feel like we have a good team, and we have enough time to build up towards the tournament.”

Nigeria boast some of the best attackers in Africa, with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen rated as the most valuable player on the continent.

The 2023 Africa Footballer of the Year was the top scorer during the qualification campaign, netting ten goals in six games.