Don’t Count Super Eagles Out Of Winning AFCON 2023 — Esin

Former Super Eagles international, Etim Esin, has said the Super Eagles can never be counted out on winning next year’s AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

The Eagles have been unimpressive in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

They were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Lesotho on matchday one November 16 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

They recorded another 1-1 draw on matchday two against Zimbabwe three days later at the Huye Stadium in Rwanda.

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Their unimpressive performance has been a source of concern for Nigerian fans ahead of the AFCON 2023.

In an exclusive interview with completesports.com, Esin said:” With the way we are going there is no real confidence. The last two games we played were draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

“It’s not encouraging but you can never count Nigeria out at the Cup of Nations. I just hope we can win it again.“

The 1987 U-20 World Cup star posited that Jose Peseiro should be given a target of winning the AFCON 2023.

“All these coaches. Keshi took us as a captain and won the Nations Cup, took us as a coach and won the Nations Cup so what’s this target of the semi-final given to foreign coaches? I don’t buy the idea of giving somebody such a target.

“Until we do something drastic because what kind of football are we playing? We have to come back to equalize. I think the boys should get their acts together. The best thing a coach can do is to get results anywhere in the world.

“It’s what makes you a good coach. The results he’s (Peseiro) getting is not giving me confidence.”

The Eagles have been placed in Group A of the 2023 Afcon with the host nations Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

The AFCON 2023 which is the 34th edition of the competition will hold between January 13 and February 11 next year.

This will be Ivory Coast’s second time of hosting the Nations Cup after staging the showpiece in 1984.