By Dianabasi Effiong
Nigeria’s football great, Mutiu Adepoju, who won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy in 1994 and made the Nigeria team to three FIFA World Cup finals, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s Super Eagles can win its fourth AFCON, the 35th edition, in Morocco.
The Super Eagles legend made this known in an interview after the men’s national team made the group which included Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania
He said: “Given the level of our players, their outing at the last AFCON where they came close to winning the trophy, and the good and great things they’re doing with their various clubs in Europe presently, I am confident that we have a team that can compete favourably and perhaps win the trophy for the fourth time in Morocco.”
The Super Eagles already know their group phase opponents following a colourful draw ceremony on Monday at the Mohamed V Theatre in Rabat on Monday evening.
The three-time champions must negotiate a group C that comprises Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, the Cranes of Uganda, and the Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
The Eagles will open their campaign with a clash with the Taifa Stars.
Super Eagles’ Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle, had, before the ceremony said that Nigeria had a good crop of players globally, adding that ecwss confident that the team was up to the task.
As hosts of the AFCON for the first time ever, in 1980, the Eagles battled the Taifa Stars in the tournament opening match, complete with their highly-rated team captain Leodegar Tenga and the enigmatic goalkeeper Jona Pondamali.
Nigeria won 3-1 and went ahead to win their first continental title.
Twenty years later, as co-hosts (with Ghana), Nigeria played Tunisia in their first match of the tournament, beating the Carthage Eagles 4-2 in Lagos.
The Eagles went all the way to the Final, losing to Cameroon only after a penalty shootout.
The Carthage Eagles pipped the Super Eagles by a lone goal in the Round of 16 at the finals in Cameroon three years ago, ending the sweet run of the three-time champions.
Uganda have always proved a tough nut to crack for Nigeria, including a 2-1 win over the Eagles at the 1978 finals in Ghana that condemned Nigeria to the third-place match. Nigeria won that third-place match after Tunisia abandoned the match in the 42nd minute.
Hosts and 1976 winners Morocco head group A, which also includes 2012 champions Zambia, 1972 runners-up Mali, and Comoros that will be playing in only their second championship.
Cup holders Cote d’Ivoire head group F and must negotiate a tricky pool that also has five-time champions Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique, while seven-time winners Egypt are at war with 1996 hosts and champions South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe in group B.
The 2021 winners, Senegal, are up against the two-time winners, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin Republic, and Botswana in Group D, while 1990 and 2019 winners Algeria will confront Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan in Group E.
GROUP A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros.
GROUP B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe.
GROUP C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania.
GROUP D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin Republic, Botswana.
GROUP E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, EquatorialcanP F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique.
