‘Nigerians have renewed love for Super Eagles’
Super Eagles Assistant Captain, William Troost-Ekong, who was named the best player at the just-concluded Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has been named in the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Best XI of the tournament.
Conspicuously missing is the Nigerian forward and current African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen.
Nigeria, however, has two other players in the squad to be coached by Cote d’Ivoire’s Emerson Fae. They are Ola Aina and Ademola Lookman.
Also in the Best XI released by CAF yesterday are three Ivoirians, two South Africans, two Congolese and one Equatoguinean.
The Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, widely regarded as the best ever, ended on Sunday in epic fashion with hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, completing one of the greatest comebacks by beating Nigeria at Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.
CAF said that its technical study group followed and analysed the tournament and its trends from day one.
The Ivoirians in the Best X1 are Ghislan Konan, Jean Michael Seri and Franck Kessie, while South Africa, who entered the competition as underdogs but marched gallantly to a third-place finish, have goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena.
DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa and Chancel Mbemba, as well as Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea make up the team.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, has described Nigerians’ renewed love for the Super Eagles as one of the gains from the country’s participation in the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria lost 1-2 to hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, in the final game of the 2023 AFCON in Abidjan on Sunday. But beyond the final game, Gusau said that he was thrilled that Nigerians have started loving the team again “unlike in the past when all we got were abuses and insults.”
Gusau promised that the NFF would continue working to ensure the Eagles maintained the current high standards, beginning with the choice of coach.
He said: “Nigerians across the country prayed for the Super Eagles instead of abusing them. The love for the team this time is unprecedented and we will try to ensure it remains that way.
“It manifested in the players’ performance because they were relaxed and played without fear. We are going back to look at how to take the Super Eagles to a higher level and I can assure Nigerians that we will do everything possible to keep the standard high.”
