PRESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, has reiterated that Nigeria are ready to give the campaign its best shot when the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations begins in Ivory Coast next year.
The three-time African champions have been paired in Group A alongside hosts, Ivory Coast, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
The Eagles will begin their quest for their fourth title against Equatorial Guinea January 14 before facing the Elephants at the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan in one the most highly anticipated games of the tournament’s group stage fixtures.
Speaking while receiving in audience at the NFF Secretariat, the Ambassador of Ivory Coast to Nigeria, Kalilou Traore, Gusau praised the Government of Ivory Coast for the huge investment in stadia and related infrastructure in order to be able to adequately host the continent, 40 years after the country played host to the 14th edition of the competition in 1984.
“I have been receiving regular briefings on the preparations from the President of Ivory Coast Football Federation, Yacine Idriss Diallo, who is a personal friend. I am aware that the Government of Ivory Coast has really invested in stadia and general infrastructure to make the AFCON a success and a huge spectacle.
“Our two teams (Super Eagles and Elephants) are in the same group at the finals, and it would be a very interesting game when we play on January 18. We know the whole of Africa and even the world will be focused on Ivory Coast before, during and after the AFCON, and our team will be ready to do its best. When Ivory Coast hosted the AFCON in 1984, our Eagles finished second. This time, we will work very hard to emerge as champions.”
Earlier, Ambassador Traore congratulated the NFF on the fact that Nigeria is one of the 24 participating nations at the upcoming AFCON, and used the opportunity to invite the NFF leadership to the Ivorian National Day, to be celebrated at the embassy of Ivory Coast on Friday, November 17.
“We want the NFF to be part of the event. The Ivorian National Day is usually celebrated in August, but it was postponed this year because of the death of our former President, Dr. Henri Konan Bedie. We also want to use the opportunity to launch a promotional programme ahead of the AFCON, which our country is hosting early next year.”
