By Adebayo Abubakar
The Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike (JP) has urged the Nigerian National team, “the Super Eagles” to go for Gold at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cote d’Ivoire, billed to commence this Saturday.
The Pillar of Sports gave the urge today (Friday) in a chat with some pressmen who visited him at the corporate headquarters of the Office of Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital
During the media interaction, the Sports-loving business mogul reminisced the era when, the mere mention of the name “Super Eagles” sent jitters down the spines of opposition teams. He, however, expressed the belief that, the team still possess the quality to replicate the glory of those good old days, if they play as a team.
The team, billed to compete at 34th AFCON being hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, between 13th of January, and 11th of February 2024, will commence their campaign in group A against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, before taking on Cote d’Ivoire (the host nation), in the second group game, and then finally on Guinea Bissau.
Nigeria who will be looking forward to winning the fourth title had won the championship on three occasions – 1980, 1994 and 2013.
Agu-Ejidike noted that, the Eagles have the required quality among the playing personnel to go all the way and win the title. He explained that, “looking at the individual successes of our players in their respective clubs, and the recent CAF award in Morocco, where Nigerians (Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala) won the African footballers of the year in both male and female categories (respectively), Nigeria have the quality to go all the way and conquer Africa once again, Ejidike added.
He therefore called on the players to the see themselves as being privileged to have been selected, out of over 200 million Nigerians, to represent the national team, and avoid playing to the gallery, or playing for individual honour, but play for, and make, the team, the “star” of the tournament.
The Nnewi-born Sports philanthropist also urge Nigerians to support the team and the technical crew with prayers, as hard work could also be complemented by luck.
