MIKEL Obi has backed Nigeria’s Super Eagles to triumph at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire in January and February.
The former Super Eagles captain was one of the draw assistants last night at the ceremony in Abidjan, along with Cote d’Ivoire great Didier Drogba, Senegal star Sadio Mane and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
After the draw proper, in which the 24 qualified teams, including the Super Eagles, were placed in six groups of four each, Mikel was asked by draw host music superstar Akon how he felt about Nigeria’s chances.
“We’re always favourites. It’s a tough group and there are many tough teams in the tournament but we’re always favourites,” said the former Chelsea midfielder, who played a pivotal role as the Super Eagles won the AFCON title in South Africa in 2013.
“No disrespect to the other teams but we are Nigeria and we’re favourites.”
The Super Eagles are in Group A with hosts Cote d’Ivoire, regular foes Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Earlier, few hours before the draw ceremony, Mikel had also tipped Nigeria to win their fourth AFCON title.
“This is coming home. The tournament AFCON 2023 is coming home to Nigeria,” he says in a short clip posted on Twitter as he holds a ‘Pride of African Football’ sign.
In other groupings for the 2023 AFCON, Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique are in B, with current champions Senegal, five-time winners Cameroon, Guinea and Gambia in C.
Algeria, who won the tournament in 2019, are in Group D with 2013 finalists Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Angola, while Tunisia, Mali, South Africa and Namibia make up Group E.
Africa’s only World Cup semi-finalists Morocco are in Group F with Democratic Republic of Congo, surprise 2012 champions Zambia and Tanzania.
