NIGERIA Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau believes that the Nigerian spirit will propel the Super Eagles to win the AFCON 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire.
The Super Eagles are up against hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final on Sunday at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in Abijdan.
“We have always been talking about the Nigerian Spirit but many people simply pay lip service to it,” Gusau told thenff.com.
“The Nigerian Spirit is of high significance; it is the overpowering conviction that we can get things done with our will-power, hard work, diligence and perseverance.”
The NFF boss admits that the country is currently undergoing tough times, but is confident the citizens will continue to push on with the never-say-die attitude they are known for, which the Super Eagles also possess.
“Presently, we may be having challenges in certain sectors and facets of our national life, but the Nigerian Spirit can propel us to overcome those challenges and then reach for glory,” Gusau noted.
“That is what the Super Eagles have shown here. At the beginning of the tournament, very few people believed in the team. Now, six matches after, we are looking at the trophy and I believe it will definitely be ours.”
Gusau also called on Nigerians from all walks of life to pray for the Super Eagles to win on Sunday.
“The triumph will certainly rejuvenate our collective passion to work for the greatness of our communities and the nation at large, and rekindle hope that all present challenges will soon become thorns that we have left behind us,” he added.
Gusau has also mourned the five Nigerians who lost their lives during the tense penalty shootout victory over South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Bouake on Wednesday.
“The Super Eagles already had a minute silence for the dead, but I also want to pray to God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest.
“Football is a game of intense passion and the capacity for shock and disappointing results is different from one person to the other. We pray that God will grant the families and friends left behind by the dead the fortitude to bear the losses.”
The Super Eagles have found form at AFCON 2023 after struggling in the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series in November with two draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and are unbeaten in six matches in Cote d’Ivoire, winning five.
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on their part, have had a fairytale run to the final after losing two of their group phase games, one of them to the Super Eagles, and advancing to the round of 16 only as one of the third-placed teams.
Sunday night’s clash will be Nigeria’s eighth appearance in the AFCON final, with only seven-time champions Egypt and four-time winners Ghana with more.
Nigeria won the title in 1980, 1994 and 2013, but lost in the final in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000.
