It is finally here. The day the journey to Let’s do it again begins. The day the king of African football graces the pitch of the Africa Cup of Nations and the day the search for the 4th AFCON trophy begins.
It is Nigeria versus Equatorial Guinea. A fourth game between the two teams and the 3 time champions will be hoping to continue their dominance on the team.
M A T C H D A Y!
⚽️ Nigeria ?? ? Equatorial Guinea ??
? Sunday, 14 January 2024
⏱ 3pm ??(WAT)
? Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, Abidjan
? Afcon MD1
? #SoarSuperEagles #LetsDoItAgain #TotalEnergiesAfcon2023 #NGAEQG pic.twitter.com/oeg7LWc4dZ
— ?? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) January 14, 2024
Jose Peseiro insisted that we pass across “positive news,” so we are hoping that the Super Eagles give us a positive result. So let’s give you some updates on the team ahead of the game.
Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea: Team news
According to Jose Peseiro, “Iheanacho and Onuachu arrived at camp at 5 am Nigerian time yesterday’ but were not involved in the last training session while Terem Moffi will arrive after the match day.
There were so many questions on the injuries and if the quality of the squad has reduced but Jose Peseiro insisted that “every player in the squad is up to par.”
“I don’t have to bother about quality, the problem I have is how to create a balance in the team.” Apart from the three missing three players, Jose has 22 players to his disposal and all 22 players were involved in the last training session.
How he will deploy what he has in his disposal remains unknown till 2 hours to kick off but it is certain that Victor Osimhen is the first player on the list.
For the goalkeepers, all three goalkeepers trained and had good performances. It is most likely that Francis Uzoho will get the nod but Peseiro’s words in Uyo after the World Cup qualifier game against Lesotho was that “give me another goalkeeper and I will bench Uzoho.”
The Portuguese has found by himself NPFL grown and South African based Stanley Nwabali. Will he take the shot and start him, it will be a huge decision.
Predicted starting XI – Nwabali, Aina, Ajayi, Ekong, Bruno, Onyeka, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Ademola, Osimhen, Moses Simon.
Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea: Head to Head
This will be the fourth fixture between the two teams. Nigeria has won the last 3 outings convincingly. But on present form, it does not look like the 4th one will be convincing.
This is what the form looks like in the last 10 games.
Nigeria – LLLWWWDDDL
E/Guinea – WLWWWDDWWD
Nigeria v Equatorial Guinea: Match Schedule
The game is 3pm Nigeria time to be played at the newly built Stade Alassane Ouattara, the same stadium Côte D’Ivoire defeated Guinea-Bissau.