Groups in a serious match last usually are not in need of causes to need to win, however Nigeria have further inside motivation to attempt to seize the Africa Cup of Nations Ultimate on Sunday towards hosts Côte d’Ivoire.
To begin, solely Egypt, with 10 and Ghana with 9, have made extra Afcon last appearances than the Nigerians. Up till the present match, the Tremendous Eagles have been tied with Cameroon on seven, however will now go one higher than the Indomitable Lions on Sunday.
But, all of these international locations have extra match wins than Nigeria. Egypt have seven, Cameroon have 5 (three of these towards Nigeria), and Ghana have 4, whereas the Eagles have a to date paltry three, embarrassing for a rustic that’s seen as one in all African soccer’s powerhouses.
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Though the final of Ghana’s 4 was received over 40 years in the past in 1982, it’s nonetheless a serious level of banter among the many two rivals, with Black Stars followers utilizing that lone edge to beat Tremendous Eagles followers over the pinnacle with.
Tying with Ghana and coming one behind Cameroon would salve a few of that damage.
As an addendum to that, whereas Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana have gamers who’ve received a number of Afcon titles, due to the spacing of Nigeria’s triumphs — 14 years between the primary and second, and 19 years between the second and third — no Eagles participant has two winners’ medals.
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The closest the nation has come to that’s the late Stephen Keshi, who received it as a participant in 1994 after which as a coach in 2013.
Now, the Tremendous Eagles have a uncommon alternative to have gamers be part of that unique membership. Captain Ahmed Musa and defender Kenneth Omeruo have been each members of the 2013 squad who received the title in South Africa simply over 10 years in the past and are actually poised to turn out to be the primary Nigerians ever to do a double.
It might be a exceptional accomplishment for each, taking part in their fourth Afcon. Musa, who scored in a 4-1 win for Nigeria towards Mali within the semifinals in South Africa a decade in the past, and is Nigeria’s file goalscorer on the FIFA World Cup with 4 objectives, admits it will be a particular feeling
“If we win the trophy, it will be an enormous day in my life as a result of in Nigeria solely Kenneth and I might be the 2 gamers to have received the Afcon two occasions and our late coach Stephen Keshi, who received it as a participant and a coach,” he mentioned.
“It’s a feeling you possibly can’t all the time correctly describe. Profitable the Afcon and touching the trophy is an unforgettable expertise. Omeruo and myself skilled that after we received in South Africa. However I would like one other one and he additionally needs one other one. The nice feeling and expertise have to be double double.”
“It might be a particular feeling,” he added to ESPN. “It exhibits how tough it’s to win the Nations Cup that if we win it, we would be the first Nigerians.”
Omeruo, who was a beginning defender in that 2013 squad earlier than getting injured for many of the match, additionally mentioned he was wanting ahead to hoisting the trophy once more.
“We would like that particular feeling once more — the sensation of being a champion of Africa,” he mentioned. “We’ve got not gone this far to throw it away now. We’ve got thrown the whole lot into the six matches we now have performed right here. We are going to give greater than 100% towards the Ivorians on Sunday.”
However Musa was additionally fast to level out that that was a secondary goal for the staff.
“We’re not going there considering of getting a double for me and Omeruo,” he mentioned. “Once we got here right here, our objective was to win the competitors for our nation and for one another. That’s what we our focus is.”
A win would additionally hand Jose Peseiro his first style of main silverware in his 32-year profession as a coach. As a head coach, he got here shut with Sporting Lisbon, dropping 1-3 to CSKA Moscow within the last of the 2005 UEFA Cup, regardless of taking part in at his residence stadium and holding a 1-0 half-time lead.
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What to anticipate within the AFCON last between Ivory Coast and Nigeria
Colin Udoh provides an early preview of the AFCON last between Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
By the way, he did win one home trophy as a coach, and in an uncanny coincidence, it occurred in 2013, the identical 12 months Nigeria final received the Afcon. Peseiro led Sporting Braga to win the Taça da Liga, defeating defending champions Benfica within the semifinal on penalty kicks earlier than occurring to beat Porto 1-0 within the last.
How poetic would it not be for each coach and staff to do a repeat in the identical 12 months. Peseiro has mentioned from the get go that his ambition was to win the match, even earlier than he was employed, and he insists that has not modified.
“My staff has accomplished very properly till now,” he mentioned. “However we now have not received it but, and I say we need to win the Afcon.”
Nigeria have one damage concern. Left again Zaidu Sanusi, who missed the semifinal, stays uncertain. Peseiro says he will probably be assessed and a choice made forward of the sport.
Off the sphere, Nigeria have taken motion to keep away from distraction for the gamers. At earlier tournaments and even qualifying video games, authorities officers and company people have made it some extent to make guarantees to the staff in an try to fireplace them to victory. These have not often labored.
Segun Odegbami, 1980 Afcon winner and prime goal-scorer, mentioned: “It’s by no means over till it’s over. The NFF shouldn’t enable any type of distractions across the staff earlier than the match. Allow us to enable the boys to pay attention and focus onerous on the duty at hand. No frivolous visits to the staff camp ought to be allowed.
“We should all endeavour to assist the staff. Allow them to be themselves and stay themselves. That is of utmost nationwide significance and all for the glory of our homeland. Nothing have to be allowed to distract the gamers from this significant nationwide task.”