A former Nigerian international, Folorunso Okenla, has expressed optimism that three-time African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, can win their fourth continental title as the world counts days to the commencement of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast on January 13, 2024.
Sporting Tribune recalls that the Super Eagles emerged champions on home soil in 1980 whipping the Desert Warriors of Algeria 3-0 in the final at the National Stadium, Lagos, in 1994 in Tunisia at the El Menzah Stadium defeating the Chipolopolo of Zambia 2-1 and a decade ago in South Africa, under the tutelage of the ‘big boss’, the late Stephen Keshi where a solitary Sunday Mba’s strike won the third trophy for Nigeria in 2013.
Okenla, who was part of the Green Eagles squad at the 1988 AFCON hosted by Morocco, in an exclusive interview with Sporting Tribune in Abuja on Wednesday, said the Super Eagles will always remain a force to reckon with in African football. He said with the calibre of players in the 25-man list released by coach Jose Peseiro, he expects to see the team play all through to the final.
Okenla, who featured for Birmingham City of England and Montreal Impact in Canada during his playing days, however, called for team spirit on the part of the players saying it is by doing so that the team can go all the way to reach the final and possibly win the title.
Commenting on the goalkeeping department which has attracted criticism from football-loving Nigerians, the ex-international urged the players to find ways of protecting whosoever the coach settles for in goal when the competition gets underway in the next 10 days.
“Our chance of doing well at the tournament (AFCON) is as good as our preparation in the last couple of years and leading up to the tournament in Ivory Coast.
“The players in the present team definitely are great players and are capable of doing well and even winning the competition with great team effort, performance and enabled environment expected from NFF leadership.
“The goalkeeping department has been the Achilles tendon for the Super Eagles for some time and I hope the entire team can give a protective shield by playing together as a team and defending together as well as attacking together with the massive attacking machine of the Super Eagles upfront.
“The Super Eagles always remain a super power on the African continent and rightfully so. I, therefore, expect a great performance from the team in this tournament and should be in the final stage of the competition or thereabout at the end of the day,” Okenla, who is now an accomplished marketing expert, told Sporting Tribune.
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