By Akinwale Kasali
As the Confederation of African Football, CAF, draws for the 2024 African Cup of Nations In Abidjan, Côte d’ Ivoire, takes place, the Super Eagles, three-time champions, have adopted the catch-phrase ‘Let’s Do It Again’ as their battle cry towards winning a title in Cote d’Ivoire early 2024.
The proposition was tabled and unanimously endorsed before the final AFCON 2023 qualification match against the Falcons and True Parrots of Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo last month. It was the basis for players and officials donning a tee-shirt with the inscription after the match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo. The Eagles won that match 6-0.
Nigeria won the 1980 AFCON that she hosted, and also won the 1994 edition in Tunisia and the 2013 finals in South Africa.
Team Captain, William Ekong, says the playing body and crew have taken to the new mantra like bees to honey.
“We like the phrase because it gives us confidence and the go-go push. We have done it before so we can do it again. Winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire is our goal and we have the team to do just that.”
Defender, Kenneth Omeruo added: “I look around and I see players who have the capacity to make it happen. We are all ambitious. The team is a blend of old and wise heads and exciting new talents. We will go for the trophy in Cote d’Ivoire.”
The song continues on Friday when the Super Eagles take on Saudi Arabia in a friendly game at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal, with the bulk of the squad that blew away Sao Tome and Principe on ground.
It is only the second time both countries will be clashing at senior international level. The only previous encounter was also a friendly, played in the Alpenstadion, Wattens in Austria on 25th May 2010 as part of final preparations for the Eagles for the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. Nwankwo Kanu, one of only two players to have featured for Nigeria at three different editions of the FIFA World Cup, captained the Super Eagles in that scoreless encounter.
Incidentally, current Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, was Coach of Saudi Arabia that day.
The Eagles have another friendly encounter on Monday, against the Mambas of Mozambique at the same venue, before 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
World ruling body, FIFA has appointed officials for next Monday’s senior international friendly match between Nigeria and Mozambique in Portugal.
Portuguese official Miguel Nogueira will serve as match referee while compatriots Paulo Bras, Ana Loide and Bruno Viera will work as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.
The encounter at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão will be the fifth for both countries at senior level.
In a friendly match, the Super Eagles edged the Mambas by the odd goal in Maputo, before two memorable clashes in 2009, in the race to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
In Maputo, both teams settled for a scoreless draw, and in Abuja in October 2009, it was heading for the same scoreline before Obinna Nsofor headed powerfully into the net for the three points to save Nigeria’s blushes. A draw that evening would have automatically eliminated Nigeria from the race.
When both teams faced off at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in 2010, in the group phase, the Super Eagles thrashed the Mambas 3-0 in the city of Lubango.
Monday’s encounter in Portugal will start at 4pm Portugal time (same time as in Nigeria).
The Eagles are expected to start arriving at their Penina Hotel and Resort, Portimao on Tuesday, with a first friendly against the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia coming up on Friday.
