Ex-international, Waidi Akanni, on Monday says Super Eagles performed beyond his expectation at the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cote d’Ivoire.
Akanni said this while reacting to the Super Eagles 2-1 defeat in the finals against host country Cote d’ Ivorie.
“I think the boys should be proud of themselves, I believe majority of Nigerians never believed that we would get to the finals. They surpassed expectations.
“There should be no bashing whatsoever. Although they didn’t play well as they did during the semifinal match against South Africa. We got here through luck in some matches and hard work in some matches.
“They showed us what the Nigerian spirit is all about, they fought fair and square; in football if you don’t play well you won’t win, luck can’t continue to carry you through”,he said.
He, however, urged the handlers of the team to go back to the drawing board and invest in the success of Super Eagles in future competitions.
“AFCON is gone, we should get our acts right, and focus on what’s next, and we all need to give this vibrant boys all the support they need to thrive.
“The handler of the team should see to it that the players correct whatever lapses they noticed during AFCON”, he said.
Credible news reports that host Cote d’Ivoire came from a goal down to defeat Nigeria 2-1 in a pulsating final on Sunday in Abidjan, to lift the AFCON trophy for the third time.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah has congratulated the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire on their victory at the just-concluded AFCON on Sunday.
Ubah, the proprietor of the defunct FC Ifeanyi Ubah of Nnewi, in a statement issued on Monday, urged the Super Eagles to remain focused.
The senator, who watched the final match live in Abidjan, said the Super Eagles should shift their attention to booking a place at the World Cup by focusing on their next qualifier.
He commended them for giving their best to reach the finals, adding that in the game of football, a winner must emerge.
“On Sunday, I was in Abidjan with the Nigerian Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, distinguished colleagues and other notable personalities to support our Super Eagles at the final match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“The event afforded me the opportunity to meet with old friends and international football officials which made me to reflect on what we can do as public officials to develop our football industry and the sports sector”, he said.
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Ubah noted that he was confident that government would work together to invest more in sports, which he described as a critical sector, by building and renovating more stadium, training facilities and youth development centres.
This, he said, would attract more talents and provide better training opportunities for the players.
The senator also called for provision of more coaching and educational programmes to develop more skilled athletes.
“I believe that the result of the match will motivate the government and relevant stakeholders to invest more in youth academies and grassroots football programmes.
“By identifying and nurturing young talent from a young age, we can ensure a steady supply of skilled players for our national teams.
“We should also prioritize the development of coaching and refereeing by providing training and certification programmes for coaches and referees. We can also improve the overall quality of our football matches.
“This will also help in the development of local talents and ensure fair play in our leagues.
“In the spirit of sportsmanship, I will like to once again congratulate Cote d’Ivoire on emerging as African Champions”, he said.
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