During a special appearance on the ex-University Ibadan FA virtual interactive program, former Super Eagles midfielder Dimeji Lawal expressed his belief that the national team possesses the necessary qualities to emerge as the favorites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Lawal shared this perspective in response to inquiries from virtual attendees.
The Eagles find themselves in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in the 36th edition of the AFCON, scheduled to span from January 13 to February 11, 2024, across five different cities.
Drawing from his experience as a silver medallist in the U-17 and U-20 World Cups, Lawal confidently stated, “Nigeria will be the team to beat in the upcoming African Cup of Nations. I have no doubt about that.”
He went on to highlight the emergence of a new generation of young African players who are excelling at top European clubs, underlining their youth and the invaluable experience gained from playing alongside some of the world’s best footballers on a weekly basis.
However, Lawal expressed concerns about the Super Eagles’ lack of significant achievements on the international stage despite their individual successes at the club level.
He emphasized the need to transition from ongoing experimentation to building a cohesive and strong team with a deep understanding of one another.
Lawal lamented the absence of a consistent core team and suggested that such instability is detrimental to Nigerian football.
In closing, he remarked on his familiarity with the starting lineups of prominent national teams like Germany, England, Spain, Holland, and France, contrasting it with the frequent changes and additions to the Super Eagles’ squad, particularly in the pursuit of players with mixed heritage or overseas backgrounds.
