Following the Super Eagles’s 2-1 loss to hosts Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, Nigerians have criticised the team for saving their worst performance for the most important game despite boosting hopes throughout the tournament.
After captain William Troost-Ekong gave Nigeria the lead at halftime with a header in the 37th minute, the hosts rallied back in the second half, scoring twice via Frank Kessie and Sebastien Haller to win their third title.
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Kessie equalised in the 61st minute with a header, and Haller scored the winner, his second of the competition, with a poke in two Nigerian players with nine minutes remaining.
Despite coach Jose Peseiro’s late substitution, the Eagles were unable to find the inspiration to return to the game, missing out on a fourth AFCON title, following their failures in 1984, 1988, 1990, and 2000.
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Nigerians were unimpressed with the team’s dismal performance.
“Ivory Coast completely deserves this victory. “Unfortunately, the Super Eagles saved their worst performance for the final,” journalist Nurudeen Obalaola observed.
Another journalist, Wale Agbede, stated, “Ivory Coast has been bad in this tournament, but we somehow made them appear so brilliant. Allowing them to control the midfield and cross at will.
Nigeria will lose its fifth AFCON final, and this year’s defeat is similar to the 1984 edition in Ivory Coast, when Cameroon defeated the Eagles 3-1 in the final.
Despite reaching the final eight times, Nigeria has only won three AFCON titles, in 1980, 1994, and 2013. Despite having the most podium finishes in the tournament’s history, Nigeria has been unable to capitalise on them over the years, finishing third eight times.
Here are more reactions from netizens:
@DanielRegha: “Ivory Coast dominated the AFCON final & outplayed Nigeria, it’s almost like the Super Eagles had no midfield (which I’ve stated repeatedly but was called names). Nigeria’s performance was kinda d!sappointing, the coach was n¤t tactically flexible, while the players d!dn’t have focus. That said, the officiating referees did an awfu! job.”
@drpenking: “If not for nepotism and knowing someone that knows someone, this Iwobi guy is not even supposed to be qualified to play for Enyimba club #AFCONFinal”
@Senior: “Super eagles of Nigeria can’t keep the ball for 2mins lmao, Bro we played rubbish. Iwobi and Chukwueze weren’t even in the game, Una try sha. I’m not pained, I just hope we improve and play beautiful football in the future ????????????❤️”
@Beloved: “I’m not pointing fingers or placing blame on anyone, but Chukwueze performed poorly, Zaidu had a disastrous game, and others seemed to lack direction, just floating around aimlessly.”
@Blckbonze: “now that we’ve lost lets say the truth, we have been shit this whole tournament, anybody that knows football knows, all those fluke ass wins never moved me. Football is simple: the team with possession will most likely win the game. you can’t be sitting back, absorbing pressure & expecting to win. make i focus on project procurement& documentation, tomorrow na Monday abeg. nonsense.”