The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has urged the Super Eagles to be “mentally superior” against the host nation in their second Group A game against Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Enoh charged the team to make amends after the disappointing 1-1 draw in the opening game against Equatorial Guinea.
In a statement from his media office on Wednesday, the minister said that defeating Ivory Coast would be “a statement of our football prowess on the continent.”
He said: “Thursday’s game gives us an opportunity to make a statement by going ahead to feast on the Elephants in their backyard. I am urging the Super Eagles to remain resolute, as we will be playing against 11 players on the pitch, the home fans, and even the weather.
“We must be mentally superior for the entire duration of the game, as we need to secure a victory to boost our chances of advancing to the next round.
“The government and people of Nigeria are behind our beloved Super Eagles and have always been a source of pride for our nation. I call upon each player to give their best on the field and make a lasting impression.
“Winning the second game against Ivory Coast is not just a victory for the team but a statement of our football prowess on the continent.”
Enoh referenced the 2013 victory en route to Nigeria’s march to winning the AFCON in South Africa. He said Nigeria defeated the Ivorians when no one gave them a chance against a star-studded Ivorian team.
“We held our own down that night in South Africa, playing against the golden generation of Ivorian football to claim a sweet 2-1 victory in the quarterfinal. If we did it ten years ago, then let’s do it again.”
Persecondnews reports that the tickets for the highly anticipated 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group A encounter between Nigeria and the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, are already sold out.
The encounter is slated for the Alssanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 18.
Category three tickets were sold at $8, category two at $16, and category one at $24.
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