AFCON 2021: Super Eagles Play For Pride, As Ghana Crashes Out

By Akinwale Kasali

No one saw it coming.

Even the star gazers never predicted that the five-time African Cup of Nations winner, the Black Stars of Ghana would crash out so easily.

It was a heavy loss and heart break for millions of Ghanaians, as lowly rated and debutants, Comoros Island, was the architect of their early exit. It defeated Ghana 3-2.

The win by Comoros will certainly make people and soccer analysts search the African map to know the location of Comoros.

Comoros Island  is a chain of islands situated off the Southeastern Coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and Northwest of Madagascar. In its first outing it made history. Though, it is also booted out of the tournament, but it  is exiting the Continental showpiece with its heads high.

Come Wednesday, January 19th, 2022, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will file out against Guinea Bissau for its third Group match.

Having qualified for the knockout stages following successive victories over the Pharaohs of Egypt and the Falcons of Sudan, the Super Eagles will be aiming to solidify their position as Group leaders.

Though, the match is mere formality as the Super Eagles had done its assignment in its first two matches, but Interim Coach Augustine Eguavoen will be gunning to continue its record breaking performance set at AFCON 2006 where the Nigeria team won all its Group matches, with Eguavoen becoming the first indigenous coach to achieve such feat.

At AFCON 2006 which Eguavoen guided Nigeria to a Bronze Medal finish, he defeated Ghana 1-0, Senegal 2-0 and Zimbabwe 2-0 to top the Group with Nine points.

He is, however, on the verge of repeating same feat, with Guinea Bissau standing its way in achieving this.

Nigeria’s opening scorer against Sudan, Samuel Chukwueze has disclosed the team preparedness to take on any team at the competition.

The Villarreal Football Club of Spain winger said that the Super Eagles is determined to face any team and defeat them with the sole aim of the team is winning the coveted trophy.

With the team already in the knockout phase, the possibility of the Coach changing his line up is rife, with soccer analysts predicting that he could give the fringe players in the team the chance to taste action.

The possible line up are; Francis Uzoho in goal, Tyronne Ebuehi, Chidozie Awaziem, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Jamilu Collins in the defense.

Frank Onyeka, Kelechi Nwakali, Ahmed Musa and Alex Iwobi in the heart of the midfield, while Peter Olayinka and Chude Ejuke in attack.