An ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Peterside, has said that the Super Eagles will earn an easy victory over Ivory Coast, ahead of the 2023 CAF African Cup of Nations final on Sunday.
Peterside stated this when he was featured as a guest on the Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, on Thursday.
The ex-goalie said that the Nigerian team would defeat the host nation as the former had won the Group A encounter when they met, by 1-0; courtesy of captain Troost-Ekong’s 55th-minute penalty.
In the semi-finals, the Eagles, late Wednesday, defeated the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 4-2 on penalties after a hard-fought full-time game that extended into extra-time and ended 1-1.
Two penalty saves from Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, were enough to help the Eagles cement a place in the final stage of the tourney against host nation Ivory Coast.
(https://punchng.com/breaking-nigeria-beat-south-africa-to-reach-afcon-finals/)
The Ivorian Elephants also advanced to the final after Dortmund’s Sebastian Haller struck in the 65th minute to book a date with Nigeria.
However, Peterside opined that Nigeria’s match against South Africa was “our toughest” while noting that the final against Ivory Coast “will be easier.”
He said, “We all knew this (South Africa) was going to be our toughest game. The game against Ivory Coast will be easier than this because we have beaten them already in our group game.
“They (Ivory Coast) only survived by sheer luck to get here. I watched the game against Congo yesterday. They are not as good as we are. They just wobbled and fumbled into the final and they will be under pressure.
“The final game will be so easy; I say it again and we will win easily.”
Nigeria will play against the Ivorians on Sunday at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan by 9 pm (Nigerian time).
While Nigeria seeks to clinch its fourth AFCON title, the Ivorians are aiming for a third.
