‘We go need calculator’ - Nigerians react to AFCON 2023 draw

Nigerians have expressed scepticism over the Super Eagles chances of making it out of the group stage of the 2023 AFCON tournament after the competition draw held earlier today. 

The Super Eagles were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, as well as the tricky pair of Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. 

Nigeria have faced the Ivory Coast six times at the AFCON, coming out on top three times and losing twice. They will also be familiar with Guinea Bissau from the qualifying rounds of the 2013 edition after suffering a shock loss to the Djurtus in Abuja. 

The Super Eagles have also played against Equatorial Guinea twice, winning both ties during World Cup qualifiers ahead of the 2010 tournament, but will be wary as the Elephants pose a different prospect more than a decade later. 

After the draw conducted in Ivory Coast pitted the hosts against the Super Eagles, Nigerians have had varied reactions to the prospect of playing the Orange Elephants after recent unpleasant encounters. 

Some fans were keen to test Nigeria’s might against one of the best teams in the land and were even confident that the Super Eagles could cause an upset by finishing above the host nation. 

While other fans were despondent, and predicted that the Super Eagles would require permutations and combinations at the end of the group stage to see if they would sneak into the knockout round. 

Nigeria will open their AFCON 2023 proceedings in January, 2024 against Equatorial Guinea before facing Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast.