AFCON 2023 semi finalists: Nigeria, The three time champions seeking 4th glory

Nigeria is a multiethnic state home to over 250 different ethnic groups who speak 500 different languages and identify with a diverse range of cultures. Together, the three largest ethnic groups—the Hausa in the north, the Yoruba in the west, and the Igbo in the east—make up more than 60% of the population. The largest city in Nigeria is Lagos.

The Nigeria national football team held the highest FIFA ranking position ever attained by an African football team when it was ranked fifth in April 1994. The Super Eagles have a long history at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They have won three titles, the most recent of which came on February 10, 2013, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, against Burkina Faso. They have also finished in second place four times and in third place eight times. The opponents of Nigeria, South Africa, have only once won the AFCON. They have once placed third and once finished in second place.

Nigeria’s first AFCON appearance was in 1963 which was the fourth edition of the competition hosted in Ghana.

Nigeria will play South Africa in the AFCON 2023 semi-final at the Stade de la Paix on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast to see who who gets a spot in the final.

Nigeria has reached to the competition’s semi-finals 16 times out of 20 appearances, matching the record set by Egypt, who have advanced this far 16 times out of 26 appearances.

As of right now, the Super Eagles are the team with the most experience still remaining in AFCON. Nigeria hopes to advance to the final as they make their 16th appearance in a TotalEnergies CAF AFCON semi-final.

Nigeria encountered difficulties even though they are the tournament favourites, most notably a draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first group stage game. Although their offensive skill was the main attraction, the defence has held strong, conceding just one goal in five games in the competition.

Now that a number of prominent African football teams have been eliminated from the ongoing, delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition in Cote d’Ivoire, Super Eagles are the clear favourites to win the continental championship for a record four times.

It’s being said that Nigerians were likewise unimpressed with the team that was going to South Africa in the 2013 tournament. However, the underdog squad led by the legendary Stephen Keshi surprised everyone by defeating the current hosts, Ivory Coast, in the quarterfinals and taking the title.

After achieving that feat, the Super Eagles missed the next two editions, managed a third-place finish in Egypt and an elimination from the last 16 in Cameroon, but they haven’t made it to a final since.

Both defensive stalwart Kenneth Omeruo and current team captain Ahmed Musa are the only members from Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON team still with the Super Eagles now, and many Nigerians are hoping that their combined experience can spur the team on to a similar result at the 2023 AFCON.

Ademola Lookman’s goal gave the Super Eagles a 1-0 victory over Angola in the quarter-finals to secure their spot in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023 semifinals.

Nigeria strength at AFCON 2023 

As they showcase some of the biggest names in the attacking department among their peers in the continent, Nigeria’s attack is the most anticipated part of their lineup in AFCON.

Awoniyi Taiwo, Chukwueze Samuel, Osimhen Victor, Boniface Victor, and many more. Regretfully, injuries occurred, forcing some well-known figures to pull out.

The seven-time finalist offensive line is being led by Victor Osimhen, who stands alone as the African football player right now. So far, though, he hasn’t been that productive in getting his name on the scoresheet but he has been effective.

Nigeria weakness at AFCON 2023 

Prior to the commencement of the competition, the Super Eagles had only two clean sheets in eleven games, one each against Guinea-Bissau and the minor Sao Tome and Principe.

Their goalkeeping department is a major weakness and their defence was a complete mess. Francis Uzoho’s reaction to the critics he encountered caused him to lose favour with the fans.

However, so far in Ivory Coast, their four clean sheets is the most of any other side, while they have also conceded the least amount of goals, one.

Stanley Nwabali, goalkeeper for Chippa United, came in and earned the spot with strong performances against Guinea-Bissau and the Ivory Coast, despite being conceding fairly easily against Equatorial Guinea.

Protected by players such as Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, and others, he has stopped all attempts made against him since giving that goal from Equatorial Guniea’s Iban Salvador.

Nigeria key player

The Super Eagles of Nigeria depend on Victor Osimhen to help them fulfil their dream of “doing it again” in the Ivory Coast. The 25-year-old forward from Napoli is considered as one of the most prolific strikers in world football and is currently the CAF Men’s Player of the Year.

Osimhen finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and his stellar play in the 2022–2023 campaign was a major factor in ending Napoli’s 33-year league drought. During that campaign, he scored 26 goals and was named the Italian Capocannoniere.

Osimhen continued this success for the Super Eagles in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals in six games. Rashidi Yekini, the greatest goalscorer in Nigerian football history, is only 16 goals ahead of him with 21 goals for the Super Eagles as of right now.

See also: Revealed: See how much AFCON 2023 winners will earn