BREAKING: Super Eagles draw Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau in AFCON 2024 Group
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group A with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
The draw ceremony took place in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, where the tournament is scheduled to be held from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
In the qualifiers, Nigeria finished top of its group with 15 points, scoring 22 goals, including a 16-0 win on aggregate against Sao Tome and Principe.
The Super Eagles were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the competition at the last edition in Cameroon after a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.
Nigeria last won the tournament in 2013 and will look to win its fourth after recording success at the 1980 and 1994 editions.
Augustine Eguavoen has stepped down as the interim coach of the Nigeria national team following the 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash on Sunday.
Eguavoen had led the three-time champions to three straight wins against Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
However, they fell short against a Covid-stricken Tunisian team in the knockout stages.
“What happens next is that I’m the interim coach and Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“I will go back to my position and allow the NFF (to) make a decision on the way forward,” Eguavoen said after the match.
Eguavoen stepped in after Gernot Rohr was sacked last month.
However, the NFF announced Jose Peseiro as the new permanent coach before the AFCON kicked off.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been eliminated by Tunisia in the AFCON round of 16 at the Roumde Adija Stadium in Garoua, Cameroon.
Tunisia won the clash 1-0 to face Burkina Faso in the quarter finals.
The Super Eagles defeat came on a day they had promised President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians that they will make Nigeria proud at the tournament.
Mentioning two of the players, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, by name, Buhari had urged the Super Eagles to continue making Nigerians happy, not only by winning the second round match, but to eventually lift the trophy.
“You’ve been doing Nigeria proud. You’ve been winning. Please keep on winning. The Federal Government is supporting you, and I say thank you to all the technical crew and the players.. Please keep doing the country proud,” Buhari had said.
The chances of Tunisia to progress to the next round of the African Cup of Nations was predicted to be narrow after twelve of the team players including the coach missed the clash against Nigeria.
The Eagles of Carthage qualified for the round of 16 after finishing as one of the four best losers in the group stage.
Meanwhile the Super Eagles led Group D with all three games won.
The last time both teams met was at the AFCON 2019 in Egypt where Nigeria beat them 1-0 in the third place match.
But the table turned against the Super Eagles who were seen as the tournament’s favourites.
Youssef Msakni opened the score sheet in the 47th minute with a surprise strike past Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye.
Disaster came the way of the Super Eagles in the 64th minute following Alex Iwobi’s poor tackle.
VAR was consulted for a possible red for Iwobi which his yellow card was upgraded to a red.
The Super Eagles made several attempts, but were always denied by the Eagles of Carthage.
The Interim Coach of the Super Eagles Austin Eguavoen has barred the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, and other guests from the team’s dressing room during half-time breaks.
Eguavoen made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday.
He said the decision was taken to prevent the players from losing concentration.
Pinnick was in the Super Eagles’ dressing room at halftime to motivate them during the encounters against Egypt and Sudan.
But Eguavoen said the NFF President and other guests will no longer be allowed in Sunday’s Round of 16 clash against Tunisia.
The coach explained that the half-time break is needed for the players and coaches to discuss tactics.
He said, “We talked about timing and I am still talking about it. It’s our culture – motivation is good.
“Guests can have short discussions with the team at the restaurant and not inside the dressing room.
“Against Egypt was the only time when the NFF president and the Air Peace president came to see the team and it was five minutes.
“In the second and third games, no one came to see the team. I don’t think this will happen tomorrow (Sunday).”
Nigeria will on Sunday night play Tunisia in the round of 16 of the competition.
Former President of Nigerian, Goodluck Jonathan, has commended the Super Eagles for qualifying for the knockout stages in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The former leader in a post on his Twitter account stated that the Super Eagles have a resilient spirit in the tournament.
Jonathan charged the Nigeria football team to sustain their momentum at the tournament as they aim for the ultimate prize.
The former President wrote, “Well done @NGSuperEagles for advancing to the knockout stage of #AFCON2021.
“This is a clear demonstration of the Nigerian resilient spirit. I wish them more victories in the games ahead and urge them to sustain this momentum as we aim for the ultimate prize. -GEJ”
The Super Eagles qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament after winning all matches in Group D.
They defeated Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea-Bissau to qualify for the next round of the competition.
