NIGERIA Football Federation president Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has declared that the Super Eagles’ only mission in Cote d’Ivoire early next year is to win the Africa Cup of Nations title.
The continental competition will be held in the West African country from January 13 to February 11, 2024 and Nigeria will be seeking their fourth title, 10 years after their last triumph in South Africa.
Nigeria were losing finalists to Cameroon the last time Cote d’Ivoire hosted the African showpiece in 1984 and Gusau is confident the Super Eagles will go one better this time.
Speaking while receiving the Ambassador of Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, at the NFF secretariat in Abuja today, Gusau commended the Ivorian government for the huge investment in stadia and related infrastructure in order to be able to adequately host the continent.
“I have been receiving regular briefings on the preparations from the President of Cote d’Ivoire Football Federation, Yacine Idriss Diallo, who is a personal friend. I am aware that the Government of Cote d’Ivoire has really invested in stadia and general infrastructure to make the AFCON a success and a huge spectacle,” Gusau said.
“Our two teams (Super Eagles and Elephants) are in the same group at the finals, and it would be a very interesting game when we play on 18th January.
“We know the whole of Africa and even the world will be focused on Cote d’Ivoire before, during and after the AFCON, and our team will be ready to do its best.
“When Cote d’Ivoire hosted the AFCON in 1984, our Eagles finished second. This time, we will work very hard to emerge as champions.”
Nigeria will face Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan on January 18 in the biggest fixture of Group A, which also has Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
Earlier, Ambassador Traore congratulated the NFF on Nigeria being one of the 24 participating nations at the upcoming AFCON, and used the opportunity to invite the NFF leadership to the Ivorian National Day, to be celebrated at the embassy of Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, November 17.
“We want the NFF to be part of the event. The Ivorian National Day is usually celebrated in August, but it was postponed this year because of the death of our former President, Dr. Henri Konan Bedie,” the ambassador said.
“We also want to use the opportunity to launch a promotional programme ahead of the AFCON, which our country is hosting early next year.”
PHOTO: NFF president Ibrahim Gusau (left) presents a Super Eagles jersey to Cote d’Ivoire ambassador to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore.
