National Teams
‘My target is to win’ – Chidozie Awaziem shares 2023 Africa Cup of Nations amibition
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria defender, Chidozie Awaziem has opened up on his personal and overall target for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) taking place in Cote D’Ivoire.
The Boavista player is hoping to win the title on February 11, 2024, when the tournament ends.
He also had a set target for the team as they prepare to face host, Cote D’Ivoire in their second Group A game after playing out a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
“For me, my target is to win the AFCON,” Awaziem told Nigeriafootball.ng in Abidjan on Tuesday.
“That is where I am focused on. I believe and know that my teammates will focus on the same goal.
“Right now, the utmost target of the team is to build a very strong team that will not be easy to beat in focussing on the cup.”
With a huge task ahead of the Super Eagles when they trade tackles with hosts, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, Awaziem promised Nigerians that the team will give their best against the West African side.
“Basically, the first game didn’t go the way we wanted it to go. We had a draw which is not bad,” he continued.
“There are a lot of big countries which had draws also and some lost. The tournament just started. For our second game, we are much prepared. We know our lapses which we have to correct and try to make it better in the second game.
“Right now, we are just focused on the game against Cote D’Ivoire and we hope to get a better result.
“Nigeria should expect nothing more than our best. Right now, we are very much prepared because we know the country we are playing against. The host country. It is not going to be an easy game. We are prepared to go into battle with them and we will try as much as possible to close our lapses.”
Cote D’Ivoire beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the opening match of the tournament and are looking for another win or draw to seal their place in the Round of 16 of the tournament.
