Sports
AFCON final against Cote d’Ivoire will be Nigeria’s easiest game, says Segun Odegbami
“In the final on Sunday, it will be a noise-making, vociferous crowd trying to lift their players against a team that should be prepared for no distractions and focused for 90 minutes…
Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has predicted that the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against host Cote d’Ivoire will be the Super Eagles’ easiest game at the tournament.
Odegbami, who was a member of the Green Eagles who won Nigeria’s first AFCON title in 1980, stated that the Super Eagles are superior to their counterparts, and the Ivorians only made it to the final through ‘luck’.
He made this known during an appearance on Channels TV’s Morning Brief on Friday.
He said, “We have beaten Ivory Coast before; we defeated them in the group stage, which gives us a psychological edge. Also, the hosts have not played well; they are not one of the top teams; they’ve been lucky. It’s a miracle they’ve gotten to this stage; they haven’t earned or deserved it on the pitch.
“In the final on Sunday, it will be a noise-making, vociferous crowd trying to lift their players against a team that should be prepared for no distractions and focused for 90 minutes.
“The Super Eagles play their game against a team that respects us; on the street, the Ivorians know we are superior; we just need to display it.
“Our players must believe, and I know we shall outplay them. It’s going to be our easiest match; it’s going to be a training session, and Nigeria will defeat them hands down.
Odegbami also called on the government to provide enough supporters for Nigeria ahead of the game.
His words: “We’re going to be up against 60,000 Ivorian fans, and they will overwhelm any kind of support we provide. I urge the government to provide support for our supporters; we need their voice. When we score, you see the players rush to the stands because they know how important they are.”
