AFCON Countdown: Nigeria Super Eagles primed to end 10-year long drought

With the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, set to kick off on January 13th, the Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up to make another attempt for continental glory. 

Nigeria will begin the quest to do it again in Group A against hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and familiar foes, Guinea-Bissau. 

Ahead of the highly anticipated start of the continental showpiece, the Super Eagles are already in a battle mood.

The Nigerian national team took to social media to post a countdown and update fans on their imminent preparations for the competition. 

"Camp soon and few days to our first kickoff at the TOTAL ENERGIES AFCON 2023,” the account posted on X.com, formerly Twitter. 

“Thank you for your support this year, Lets do it again Naija!" the Super Eagles added.

Jose Peseiro-led Super Eagles will be looking to end what has been a long wait for Nigeria to conquer the continent at AFCON.

When the competition kicks off in Ivory Coast on the 13th of January, it will be a decade since the Super Eagles lifted the AFCON for the third time in South Africa.

Peseiro has unveiled a strong 25-man list for the task at hand, led by African Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen and his namesake, Victor Boniface, the Bayer Leverkusen complete forward. 

The quest for a fourth AFCON trophy will get underway on January 14th when Nigeria face its first test in Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, the football governing body in Africa, Confederation of African Football, CAF, has released data on tickets sold for the upcoming  TotalEnergies AFCON2023, with Nigeria ranked amongst the top five.

Pulse Sports Nigeria reported that CAF revealed the top five ticket-selling nations on their social media last week ahead of the AFCON2023.

According to the numbers shared by CAF on its X.com, formerly Twitter, account, Nigeria ranks fourth among nations whose fans have been picking tickets for the tournament. 

Per the data, a total of 12, 544 tickets have been sold by Nigeria, who launched an AFCON campaign tagged ‘Let’s do it again” as the Super Eagles look to win a fourth title.

Leading the numbers is the host nation, Ivory Coast, with 32, 307 tickets sold followed by Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea in second and third respectively