Segun Odegbami, a former Nigerian international, expressed confidence that the Super Eagles’ final match against the host nation Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be their easiest in the tournament.
Odegbami, a member of the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles) that clinched Nigeria’s first AFCON title in 1980, asserted that the Super Eagles are better than their opponents, saying that the Ivorians reached the final game through sheer “luck.”
He revealed this on Friday, February 9, during an interview on Channels TV’s Morning Brief.
He said: “We have beaten Ivory Coast before; we defeated them in the group stage, which gives us a psychological edge. Also, the hosts have not played well; they are not one of the top teams; they’ve been lucky. It’s a miracle they’ve gotten to this stage; they haven’t earned or deserved it on the pitch.
“In the final on Sunday, it will be a noise-making, vociferous crowd trying to lift their players against a team that should be prepared for no distractions and focused for 90 minutes.
“The Super Eagles play their game against a team that respects us; on the street, the Ivorians know we are superior; we just need to display it.
“Our players must believe, and I know we shall outplay them. It’s going to be our easiest match; it’s going to be a training session, and Nigeria will defeat them hands down.
In addition, Odegbami demanded that the government provide Nigeria with enough fans for the match.
He said: “We’re going to be up against 60,000 Ivorian fans, and they will overwhelm any kind of support we provide. I urge the government to provide support for our supporters; we need their voices. When we score, you see the players rush to the stands because they know how important they are.”
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