SUPER Eagles defenders William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo are confident that the team can earn their first win of the AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations when they face hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.
While the Elephants comfortably won their Group A opener against Guinea-Bissau by 2-0 on Saturday, the Nigerian side wasted several chances and needed to come from behind to draw 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
The two giants of the group will face each other on Thursday in Abijdan in one of the most anticipated AFCON 2023 group phase fixtures, and the Super Eagles stars are poised for action.
PAOK of Greece defender Troost-Ekong, who captained the Super Eagles against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, appealed to Nigerians to keep supporting the team while asserting his confidence.
“We went all out to pick the three points against Equatorial Guinea, but it didn’t happen. We live to fight another day,” he said.
“From our side, we are appealing to Nigerians from all over the world to keep supporting and believing in the team. Our objective is to first reach the knockout rounds and then we push strongly from there.”
With Kelechi Iheanacho hoping to be involved after recovering from injury and Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu joining the squad after being named as late replacements for Victor Boniface and Umar Sadiq, the Super Eagles have more options.
Omeruo, who was in the Super Eagles team that beat Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals of the 2013 AFCON on the way to winning the title, says the side have self-belief as they get set to battle the hosts.
“We expect a tough game because the Ivorians are the hosts and they are also top of our group,” the Kasimpasa centre-back said.
“But we have our aspirations as well and we believe in ourselves.”
The Super Eagles would go to the top of the Group A table if they beat Cote d’Ivoire but a defeat would leave Jose Peseiro’s side in real danger of a disastrous early elimination.
