Super Eagles’ Omeruo anticipates tough AFCON final showdown against Ivory Coast

Super Eagles of Nigeria are slated to tackle Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as they hope to lift their fourth trophy 

Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo expects a tough battle in Sunday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final against the Ivory Coast, Soccernet.ng reports.

The match, set to take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, will see Nigeria facing off against the hosts after securing a semi-final victory against South Africa.

Meanwhile, at the group stage, Jose Peseiro’s men were seeded with Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, where they defeated Ivory Coast with a score of one goal to nil, thanks to William Troost-Ekong’s goal from the penalty spot.

Omeruo acknowledges the significance of the game for both countries, with Nigeria having earlier secured a 1-0 victory against the Ivory Coast in the group stage.

Despite this prior success, Omeruo anticipates a strong response from the Ivorian team, aiming for redemption.

“We all know how important this game is for our country, for them too (Cote d’Ivoire) it is very important. We beat them in the group stage and they will definitely want a revenge this time around.” he said, as witnessed by Soccernet.ng during the training session on Thursday.

Given the expected hostile environment and passionate home crowd, Omeruo emphasises the importance of the team’s experience in dealing with such situations.

He expresses confidence in the team’s ability to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious in the final showdown.

He added: “The crowd will be hostile and will be solidly behind them, but we have the experience to deal with that. It’s going to be tough out there, but we will do our best to come out victorious,”

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be hoping to lift their fourth AFCON trophy on Sunday, while the host will be eyeing their third trophy.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

Share
Published by
Ayomide Oguntimehin

Recent Posts

Osimhen: Napoli star drops transfer hint as Man United and Chelsea prepare €75 million bid

Napoli-owned forward Victor Osimhen has sparked transfer speculation with a new comment about his future,… Read More

7 hours ago

Ghana 0-0 Nigeria: CHAN Eagles grab first-leg advantage in Accra against Black Galaxies

Nigeria forced Ghana to a goalless draw in the first leg of the qualifying playoff… Read More

7 hours ago

What Hakimi’s mother said after her son lost the CAF POTY Award to Lookman

Achraf Hakimi's mother, Saida Mouh, has revealed her son has moved on from the disappointment… Read More

7 hours ago

“I see similarities with Leicester” – Ex-Barcelona striker backs Ola Aina’s Nott’m Forest to win EPL title

Former Barcelona and England striker, Gary Lineker, has backed Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina's Nottingham… Read More

8 hours ago

Two Premier League clubs ready to meet Napoli’s €75m asking price for Victor Osimhen

Two English Premier League sides, Manchester United and Chelsea, are prepared to meet Napoli's €75m… Read More

9 hours ago

Tolu Arokodare surpasses Stephen Keshi’s mark in Belgium as Genk humble Anderlecht

Tolu Arokodare delivered a man-of-the-match performance to inspire KRC Genk to a convincing 2-0 win… Read More

9 hours ago