Nigerian football legend Jay-Jay Okocha anticipates that experience and determination will play a pivotal role as the Super Eagles face Cote d’Ivoire in the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
Nigeria seeks its first win in the competition after a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in the group opener, while the Elephants secured a 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
Okocha emphasizes the significance of the players’ mindset, experience, and desire in determining the outcome of the match. Recognizing the difficulty of playing against the host country, he acknowledges the challenge but expresses confidence in Nigeria’s potential to secure a victory.
The former Afcon title winner in 1994 notes that every match is challenging, especially against the host country, but preparation is key. Super Eagles’ striker Victor Osimhen, who scored in the opening match, is expected to lead the attack.
Okocha highlights Osimhen’s world-class goal-scoring abilities and emphasizes the importance of the team’s support for him to shine in the competition.
“We know that Victor Osimhen is a world-class goalscorer, a very great player. He needs the services of his team, and I believe he got them in the first match,” says Okocha, expressing hope and confidence in Osimhen’s capability to make an impact in the tournament.
