Former Nigeria midfielder, Femi Ajilore, believes the Super Eagles are clear favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations next year, The PUNCH reports.
The Super Eagles battle hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in their group stage matches.
Jose Peseiro’s squad secured their AFCON ticket convincingly with a 6-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe in the last game of the qualifiers, placing them at the top of Group A.
However, recent concerns have been raised as the Eagles have managed just one victory in their last four matches and fans have begun to ask questions.
Ajilore, despite this, remains optimistic about the Eagles’ ability to clinch their fourth AFCON trophy over a decade since their last title.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games silver medallist gave the team almost 100 per cent chance of replicating the heroics of the 2013 AFCON team.
“I think they can do it again like their mantra says. I give them 95 per cent chance of winning the trophy in Ivory Coast next year,” Ajilore told our correspondent.
“I think the guys we have now and the preparation that I expect them to have between now and the commencement of the tournament in January 2024, I have a lot of hope in them to achieve this.”
Ajilore also believes that the performance of the players in the qualifiers should inspire confidence in the fans. He also tipped the Eagles to make it out of their World Cup qualifying group after playing out two draws in their opening two games.
“Looking at how they got out of their group to qualify for the tournament proper, I expect them to play with that same level of threat in attack at the competition and also recover from their poor start in the World Cup qualifiers and make it out of the group,” the 38-year-old said.
The Super Eagles will prepare in Saudi Arabia before heading to Ivory Coast for the tournament with hopes of giving Nigerian fans a reason to celebrate.
