How Nigeria will Play At AFCON 2023, Opta Predictions and Why I Think Super Eagles will be Successful in Cote d'Ivoire

 

Why We Must Support Super Eagles of Nigeria

Opta predictions ranked Nigeria 6th possible winners with 8.1%. The ranking following mathematical analysis of recent data can be termed relatively accurate, but doesn't reflect the true quality of Super Eagles. 

Three factors may work to our advantage in Cote d'Ivoire: This is the first time Jose Peseiro have to stay with the players for a week or more. So he can really Institute his philosophy and bring his coaching ability to the fore.

Secondly, I think Super Eagles has the quality and they are likely to blend quickly as well as improve with each game as the team progresses in the competition. 

The mentality is high in camp; Super Eagles players are ready to raise their game and win the fans back. We are hoping to see the "Nigerian spirit" play out in most of the games. 

Super Eagles' plan is to win the three group A games and Peseiro has said the team cannot afford to make mistakes. 

He plan to play attacking formation maybe right. If Nigeria's team strength is in the attack, then it will be wrong to play defensive formation. 

We must find a way to high press to force our opponents to retreat. It will be about outscoring our opponents. We will have to manage our defense to be as effective as possible. If we do not loss the ball often and if we can recover the ball as quickly as possible from the midfield, then the players will have time to organize the defense line. Of course, a well organized defense line will help the goalkeeper perform better. 

It is about playing for one another, supporting one another to close up the weak link or porous end as quickly as possible. The coaching crew are ready with men and tools that can help us read games in the most scientific way and proffer Intutistic solution as each game proceeds. So the capacity is there. 

No match will be the same and as we all know players are human and not machine. We hope to start well and we hope to build a more formidable front with every game as the competition proceeds. 

Football is highly unpredictable, neither Opta nor anyone else can say for sure what will happen in any game. But I think we have the capacity and the players mentality are high. They are challenged by the fact that Nigerians do not believe in them. It is an opportunity to win back the fans and perhaps, make a quantum leap in the project for 2026 FIFA World Cup. A lot depends on the outcome of our campaign in Cote d'Ivoire. The coaches job are also on the line. 

Opta’s predictions give Nigeria an 8.1% chance of lifting the trophy. This potential victory would mark a significant comeback after failing to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 editions, followed by a third-place finish in 2019 and a disappointing last-16 exit in 2022. Coach José Peseiro will be hoping for a much better showing this time around, particularly if his star attackers can find their form.

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen was the leading scorer in qualifying, netting an impressive 10 goals – twice as many as any other player. Since the last AFCON, only four players in the top five European leagues have outscored Osimhen’s 42 goals.