
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has congratulated the Super Eagles, on their impressive victory over Cote D’Ivoire in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
This is as Victor Osimhen, the prolific Super Eagles striker, has cautioned his teammates to avoid underestimating Guinea-Bissau in their upcoming fixture. Osimhen gave the counsel against the backdrop of the team’s dismal outing against Equatorial Guinea in their first match of the tournament and their slim 1-0 victory over Cote d’Ivoire in their second game.
In a statement, Senator Enoh expressed delight with the team’s improved performance against Cote D’Ivoire and praised their commendable win over the host nation. He conveyed the support and encouragement of President Bola Tinubu and the football-loving people of Nigeria, emphasizing their belief in the team’s exceptional capabilities.
“The victory against Cote d’Ivoire is commendable, and defeating the host nation is a good sign of the team’s exceptional capabilities,” remarked Enoh, stressing that the “President and football-loving people of Nigeria are all rooting for you to stay victorious until the end. We all believe in you, It’s in you to win all through. Keep winning through all stages and bring home the trophy. We have done it before, and we can do it again. Let’s do it again!”
The Minister highlighted the collective support of the nation and urged the Super Eagles to maintain the same winning spirit throughout the competition. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to overcome challenges and bring pride to Nigeria by clinching the top prize of the championship.
Senator Enoh also encouraged the players and coaches to maintain their focus, determination, and team spirit as the tournament progresses.
William Troost-Ekong secured the only goal of the game against Cote D’Ivoire from the penalty spot.
Osimhen, the current African Player of the Year, in his statement, stressed the need for the Super Eagles to approach the game with Guinea-Bissau on Monday at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, with determination and avoid underestimating their opponents, despite the fact that they are on the brink of elimination after consecutive defeats in their opening two games.
“We aim for a strong performance against Guinea-Bissau. They will undoubtedly approach the game with determination, and we won’t underestimate any team, considering what they’ve done to qualify,” Osimhen stated. He highlighted the previous encounters between the two teams in the qualifiers, acknowledging the strength of Guinea-Bissau. In the qualifiers, Guinea-Bissau defeated Nigeria at home, while the Super Eagles secured a victory in the away match.
“We met them in the qualifiers and know how strong they are. They defeated us at home, while we beat them away. So, we are expecting a tough game against them. We will do our best to win,” Osimhen added.
The Super Eagles will look to build on their current momentum and secure another victory in their final group stage game against Guinea-Bissau as they aim to progress further in the tournament. Nigeria needs at least a point in this last game to book a spot in the knockout stage of the AFCON.