The Super Eagles of Nigeria will have to overcome some formidable opponents in Group A of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Ivory Coast.
The draw ceremony, which was held in Abidjan, pitted Nigeria against the hosts, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.
The host nation and the favorites
Ivory Coast, the host nation, is one of the favorites to win the tournament, having won it twice before in 1992 and 2015. The Elephants have a talented and experienced squad, featuring stars such as Wilfried Zaha, Franck Kessie, Serge Aurier, and Nicolas Pepe. They also have the home advantage and the support of their passionate fans. Ivory Coast qualified for the tournament as hosts, but also topped their qualifying group ahead of Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Niger.
Equatorial Guinea, the dark horses of Group A, is making its third appearance at the AFCON, having reached the quarter-finals in 2012 and 2015. The Nzalang Nacional have a balanced and cohesive team, led by captain Emilio Nsue, who plays for Spanish club Malaga. They also have some players with dual nationality, such as Pedro Obiang, who was born in Spain and plays for Italian club Sassuolo. Equatorial Guinea qualified for the tournament by finishing second in their qualifying group behind Tunisia, and ahead of Libya and Tanzania.
Guinea Bissau, the debutants of Group A, is making its first ever appearance at the AFCON, after a remarkable qualifying campaign. The Djurtus defied the odds and topped their qualifying group ahead of Congo, Zambia, and Eswatini. They have a young and energetic team, coached by former Portugal international Baciro Cande. They also have some players who play in Europe’s top leagues, such as Carlos Embalo, who plays for Turkish club Besiktas, and Marcelo Djalo, who plays for English club Fulham.
The expectations and the predictions
Nigeria, the most successful team in Group A, is aiming to win its fourth AFCON title, after winning it in 1980, 1994, and 2013. The Super Eagles have a strong and versatile squad, featuring stars such as Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Kelechi Iheanacho. They also have a proven coach in Gernot Rohr, who has been in charge since 2016. Nigeria qualified for the tournament by topping their qualifying group ahead of Benin, Sierra Leone, and Lesotho.
The expectations for Nigeria are high, as they are expected to qualify from Group A as one of the top two teams. However, they will face stiff competition from Ivory Coast, who will be eager to impress on home soil. Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau will also pose a threat to Nigeria’s ambitions, as they will play with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
