AFCON 2023: Kelechi Nwakali tips Nigeria for glory in Cote d’ivoire

Nigeria midfeilder Kelechi Nwakali insists the Super Eagles have the quality to match all the continent’s big guns and has tipped the West African side to go all the way to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 25-year-old —who left Arsenal in 2019 without making a first-team appearance— believes that Nigeria have the squad to beat any team they face at the upcoming AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.

Nwakali was a member of Nigeria’s squad for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, where the Super Eagles won all their three group games only to suffer a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the Round of 16.

However, the CD Chaves midfielder has not been involved with the Super Eagles squad for almost two years but is on the submitted 40-man provisional list ahead of AFCON 2023.

Nigeria will trade tackles with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage.

The former Arsenal youngster would hope to make the final list of 27 players and help the three-time champions to another glory since 2013.

“The Eagles chances are very bright considering the talents we have in every department of the team,” Nwakali told the Punch.

“I feel we’ve got a very good squad to win the AFCON. I believe our squad is capable of matching any team, but obviously, it’s one thing having that and another being able to do that consistently throughout a tournament.

“We must start the tournament well by winning because doing that will give the team confidence, and we must not underrate any team.

“We must also take every game as a must-win and avoid the mistakes of the last edition. Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea won’t be pushovers because they are equally solid too, but the Eagles will be ready to reclaim their crown in Ivory Coast.”