Binewa Team Profile: Nigeria at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to kick-off under three weeks after months of counting down.

The 34th edition of the continent’s biggest football showpiece is unique in many ways especially as it takes the 24-team format for only the third time.

There is so much to look forward in the 2023 AFCON, from a youthful Nigeria Super Eagles team hoping to reach out for a fourth AFCON triumph.

This edition will be Nigeria’s 20th in 34 tourneys in total, since the initials in 1957.

Nigeria has recorded 8 third place finishes, being runners up 4 times, and ultimately crowned champions 3 times.

Years the Super Eagles mounted on the podium;

Ethiopia 1976 – third place
Ghana 1978 – third place
Hosts (Nigeria) 1980 – Champions

Cote D’Ivoire 1984 – Runners – up

Morocco 1988 – Runners up

Algeria 1990 – Runners up

Senegal 1992 – third place

Tunisia 1994 – Champions

Ghana/Nigeria 2000 – Runners up

Mali 2002- Third place

Tunisia 2004 – Third place

Egypt 2006 – Third place

Angola 2010 – third place

South Africa 2013 – Champions

Egypt 2019 – Third place

Years Nigeria Emerged Champions #1 1980

43 years ago, Nigeria lifted her very first Africa Cup of Nations. Then known as the Green Eagles, Nigeria, led by Christian Chukwu on March 22nd defeated Algeria 3-0 in Lagos to lift the trophy.

Thousands packed the National Stadium in Surelere, Lagos, to watch them win the Holy Grail under Brazilian coach Otto Gloria. Nigeria had to go through Tanzania, Cote D’Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria. The Eagles scored 8 goals in 5 games played.

Nigeria at Tunisia 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament paraded some notable names that made the squad a fearsome proposition. The team is arguably the best Eagles squad in the nation’s footballing history.

Nigeria went into the 1994 AFCON tournament as one of the three favourites for the title, which they ended up winning.

Though hampered by the baggage of emerging as runners-up in I984 and 88, coach Clemence Westerhof was determined to end Nigeria’s long search for its second AFCON title and it was a perfect timing.

Grouped alongside Egypt and Gabon in group B, the ‘golden generation’ approached the competition with caution, but the team began their campaign on a bright note as they dismissed Gabon 3-0 in the opener with two goals coming from late Rashidi Yekini and Mutiu Adepoju.

Their second game was a goalless draw against Egypt to book a place in the knockout stages.

Yekini’s brace took Nigeria into the semi-final to face arch-rivals, Cote D’Ivoire.

In what was a pulsating encounter that swung back and forth, the Eagles triumphed on penalties after 90 minutes and extra time ended 2-2.

Emmanuel Amuneke scored twice against Zambia to ensure Nigeria smiled home with the trophy.

In 2013, Nigeria added a third star on their kit. Sunday Mba scored a magnificent goal that won the trophy.

The Super Eagles made the breakthrough just before half-time when Mba clipped the ball over Mohamed Koffi and then volleyed into the far corner.

It was a perfect show of tactical intelligence by Stephen Keshi, the man who was show – named ‘the boss’.

2023 AFCON qualifications journey

Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau, the group winners and runners-up respectively, qualified from group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Osimhen, Iwobi were on target as Nigeria started its qualifications campaign with a 2-1 win over Sierra Leone.

Up next on game day 2 was a 10-0 mauling of São Tomé and Príncipe.

The Super Eagles got stunned by a Mama Balde goal at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium on game day 3, against Guinea Bissau.

Nigeria got its revenge in the reversed fixture on game day four, and then went on to seal academic victories against Sierra Leone and Soa Tome & Principe to end with 15 points.

Qualifications matches

Nigeria 2–1 Sierra Leone
Iwobi 16′
Osimhen 41’//
Morsay 11′

São Tomé and Príncipe 0–10 Nigeria
Osimhen 9′, 48′, 65′, 84′
Simon 28′
Moffi 43′, 60′
Etebo 55′
Lookman 63′
Dennis 90+2′ (pen.)

Nigeria 0–1 Guinea-Bissau
M. Baldé 29′

Guinea-Bissau 0–1 Nigeria
Simon 30′ (pen.)

Sierra Leone 2–3 Nigeria
Bundu 41′
Kargbo 84’//
Osimhen 19′, 32′
Iheanacho 90+5′

Nigeria 6–0 São Tomé and Príncipe
Osimhen 13′, 69′ (pen.), 79′
Lookman 27′
Awoniyi 51′
Chukwueze 84′

Group A standings of the 2023 AFCON qualifications

Nigeria 15 pts
Guinea Bissau 13 pts
Sierra Leone 5 pts
Soa Tome & Principe 1 pt

Players to watch

Lookman

Former England youth international, Ademola Lookman will be playing his first AFCON final in Cote D’Ivoire. Lookman, 26, has contributed to 9 goals in 17 games this season for Atalanta. Lookman only started playing for Nigeria in 2022, and has since then made 8 appearances for 2 goals.

Alex Iwobi

Former Gunner Alex Iwobi has had the best start to life at Fulham in the premier league. His runs from midfeild and an eye for a decisive pass could be of utmost importance for the Eagles.

Kelechi Ihaenacho

Leicester winger Kelechi Iheanacho is one of the more technically gifted players in the roster for the super Eagles. He started the championship season brightly with parent club Leicester. Iheanacho has scored 13 times in 47 senior appearances for Nigeria.

Osimhen Victor

2023 CAF player of the year, Victor Osimhen finally gets the chance to star at the AFCON after missing out in 2021 due to injury. Osimhen is very confident at the moment, after he helped Napoli to the Scudetto last campaign, an award that earned Osimhen the Italian player of the year. Osimhen ended up as the qualifications top scorer with 10 goals.

2023 AFCON matches

Nigeria kick-start their AFCON 2023 AFCON campaign against Equatorial Guinea at the Ebimpe Olympic stadium on January 14.

A rip-roaring fixture against hosts Cote D’Ivoire follow on January 18, before a last group game on January 22 against Guinea Bissau.

Fellow AFCON qualifications foe Guinea Bissau will pit Nigeria yet again, after they both met in group A of the AFCON qualifiers.

Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) named Jose Peseiro as the new head coach of the Super Eagles on May 15, 2022.

Finidi George was promoted to the role of first assistant coach, replacing Salisu Yusuf, who became the team’s second assistant coach.

Peseiro was first announced as the permanent replacement for Gernot Rhor in December 2021.

He was expected to take over the team after the African Nations Cup in Cameroon, but the NFF made a U-turn on the decision and appointed Austin Eguavoen instead. However, Eguavoen stepped down after failing to qualify for the World cup.