With four points already in the bag and in second place in Group A, the Nigerian Super Eagles aim to soar to the top of the table at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.
Striker Victor Osimhen has stated that the team will defeat bottom-placed Guinea-Bissau for Nigerians. “We know them; we played them in the qualifying series. They are a dangerous team if you let them play,” Osimhen told reporters in Abidjan. “I think we’ll go back to the last game in which they won, and then we’ll start the game and come up really strong against them. It’s not going to be an easy game, but we’re ready to give everything for our fans and country to make them happy.”
Midfielder Alex Iwobi shares Osimhen’s desire. He restated his commitment to giving everything for the fans and promised that the Eagles would win to make Nigerians happy. “The sort of players we have will always create chances, and we were able to get the one against Ivory Coast. If we are able to get at least one and defend well, we’ll win the game (against G-Bissau). “Nigerians aren’t happy if you don’t win; for them to be happy, you have to win, so we are going to win to make them happy,” he said in an interview with journalist Osasu Obayiuwana on Sunday.
“We want to take the first place, and for that, we must do battle. We must do what is necessary to accomplish our mission,” Eagles coach Jose Peseiro said at the pre-match conference at the Palais de la Culture in the Treichville area of Abidjan on Sunday.
Recall that Guinea-Bissau last defeated the Eagles 1-0 in Abuja during the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON.
The Nigerian team had played out a 1-1 draw in their first game against Equatorial Guinea. In the second game, Jose Peseiro’s men got their campaign back on track with a 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau lost both of their games and are eliminated from the tournament.
The Super Eagles play them at the Stade Félix Houphoüet-Boigny, Abidjan, and will need only a win to go top of the table, given that Equatorial Guinea is unable to beat Ivory Coast in the other last game of the group.
Nigeria’s game against Guinea-Bissau kicks off at 6 pm Nigerian time – simultaneously with the other game between Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea.
Great to see Victor Osimhen declaring confidence in the Super Eagles’ ability to beat Guinea Bissau! It’s crucial for Nigeria to secure the top spot in AFCON group A, and I believe the team has the talent and determination to make it happen. Let’s go Super Eagles!