HighlightSportsTrending Story

AFCON 2023 draw: Super Eagles in Pot 2, may face host Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal

512

Ahead of the 2023 African Cup of Nations which is set to take place in Cote d’Ivoire,the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been seeded in Pot 2 with Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Cong DR.

With the latest FIFA ranking and with host Cote d’Ivoire ranked 9th on the continent, Nigeria was placed in Pot 2 ahead of the draw as the host nation must be in Pot 1.

With the seeding completed on Thursday, Jose Peseiro’s men could face familiar foes like hosts Cote d’Ivoire, holders Teranga Lions of Senegal, Atlas Lions of Morocco, Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and Pharaohs of Egypt in the group stage.

With the current crop of centre-forwards at the disposal of Peseiro, football enthusiast are optimistic that Nigeria can compete for the top prize with the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching.

Victor Osimhen is the poster-boy for Nigerian football right now, Osimhen scored 26 league goals to win the Capocannoniere award as Serie A’s leading scorer becoming the first African to achieve such feat in the 125-year-old history of the competition.

No player has been involved in more Premier League since the start of May, the Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi (11), Taiwo Awoniyi, scored in his final four games of 2022/23 and continued the streak in his first three in 2023/24.

Another Nigerian wonderkid Gift Orban, the 21-year-old turned heads with the fastest hat-trick in UEFA competition history, scoring 26 goals in 29 games in his Genk career so far.

Victor Boniface signed for Bayer Leverkusen for an initial €20m from Union Saint-Giloise, and it already looks like a bargain. He finished as joint-top scorer alongside Marcus Rashford during the 2022/23 Europa League season and has already been involved in nine goals in six game in all competition this season (6 goals, 3 Assists).

The Nigerian team since making their debut in the 1963 edition of AFCON hosted by Ghana, have won the tournament three times.

The Super Eagles hosted and won their first AFCON during the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations in Lagos with Segun Odegbami clinching the top scorer spot with three goals, and Captain Christian Chukwu winning the best player of the tournament.

The draw will be held on October 12 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, while the competition will run from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

THE DIFFERENT POTS
Pot 1: Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt

Pot 2: Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cong DR

Pot 3: South Africa, Cape Verde, Guinea, Zambia, Equitorial Guinea, Mauritania

Pot 4: Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Gambia, Tanzania

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Oil theft: 163 incidents recorded,16 suspects arrested in Niger Delta in one week

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd) has matched its words...

Army Chief Lagbaja visits Kaduna after military drone killed 85 villagers

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja on Tuesday visited Kaduna...

Visa: UK introduces stringent five-point plan to reduce migration

The United Kingdom Home Secretary, Mr James Cleverly, has proposed a five-point...

Tinubu orders full-scale investigation into Kaduna village bombing

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full- scale investigation into the bombing...

Portable meets Skepta, Tiwa Savage in UK, hints on collaboration

Street sensation, Portable, is basking in the glory of his musical journey...

Nigeria’s delegation to COP28 in Dubai is 422, not 1,411 – Information Minister

The Federal Government has clarified that its delegates to the ongoing Convention...

COP28: Kyari to world energy leaders: A just energy transition for Africa is realistic

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited...

Lagos port berths world’s largest container, “MV Great Lagos”

Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Minister of Marine and Blue...

Bombing of Kaduna villagers: Nigerian Army has admitted it’s an error – Kaduna Govt

The Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for dropping a bomb on Tudun...

2024 budget will be people’s budget – Speaker Abbas

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, has assured...

Indisposed Ondo Gov. Akeredolu’s signature forged by aides, Ajulo, SAN alleges

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has alleged that the...

Asake opens up: Love of money propels pursuit of my career

Music sensation and Grammy Award nominee, Asake, has candidly shared insights into...

NPA committed to rallying stakeholders to optimize nation’s rich blue economy – NPA boss, Bello Koko

“Coming immediately after the launch of her sister ship “Great Antwerp, the...

Pilotage contract: INTEL waives $193m interest on debt — NPA

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says INTELS Nigeria Ltd. has waived $193...

It is unfair to assume all actors are wayward – Olayode Juliana (Toyo Baby)

Actress, Juliana Olayode better known as Toyo Baby has ventured into motivational...

Tragedy! Three Oyo State monarchs die in road crash

  Oyo State has lost three traditional rulers in a single day...

NNPC Ltd’s Kyari, U.S. Sen. Kerry, Moynihan, others brainstorm on climate issues at COP28 in UAE

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited,...

Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce inagurates Atelly as 18th President, unveils programmes

Ray Atelly has been sworn in as the 18th President of the...