From January 13 to February 11, 2024, African football will take the centre stage when the Confederation of African Football, CAF, rolls out its flagship tournament, the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Ivory Coast. Teams from 24 countries, including host nation, Ivory Coast, are taking part in the 34th edition of the continental fiesta. 

The month-long tournament will be ignited by the opening match between the host national team, the Elephants of Ivory Coast, and Guinea Bissau on January 13 at the Stadium Olympic Alassane Ouattara. Incidentally, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Nigeria make up Group A.

With a very robust history in the tournament, three-time winners, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, begin their quest for a fourth title on January 14, against Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria is already being tipped by pundits as one of the favourites for the trophy. Since winning her first bronze medal in 1976 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Super Eagles have won the title thrice, four runners up medal and four more third place finish. No doubt, a remarkable and enviable record. 

Against this backdrop, expectations are high among teeming Nigerian football fans across the globe, more so, when the team’s Portuguese gaffer, Jose Peseiro, has assured Nigerians that his ambition is to win the AFCON with the Super Eagles.

Buoyed by the ‘Let’s do it again’ slogan initiated by the Nigeria Football Federation ahead this tournament, the players, too, spoke strongly of their resolve to return with the trophy Nigeria won last ten years ago in South Africa, with late Stephen Keshi as head coach.

However, very discerning minds warn that such optimism was baseless as the present Nigerian team lacks a track record of dominance or competitiveness reminiscent of their predecessors. Some argue that a squad dominated by foreign-based professionals, largely of children of Nigerian descent born in the diaspora, lack the never-say-die Nigerian spirit.

Be that as it may, Nigeria remains the cynosure of all eyes. With her flamboyant attacking profile and core professionals, the Super Eagles are expected to fly Nigeria’s flag very high. It is hoped that the technical crew will use the camping period in Abu Dhabi to plug all loopholes in the team and produce a good and credible representation at the tournament. 

This is also a call to the Nigeria Football Federation to back up its call for Nigeria to do it again with adequate support, financially and otherwise.

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations presents a platform for CAF to show to the world that Africa is ripe in putting together a tournament worthy of mention. No stone should be left unturned in order to deliver the best AFCON ever.

For the Super Eagles, we can only join Nigerians to echo the slogan: “Let’s do it again.”