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Nigeria’s Quest for Glory: What the Super Eagles Need to Do to Lift the AFCON Trophy
Nigeria’s Quest for Glory: What the Super Eagles Need to Do to Lift the AFCON Trophy
Sahara Weekly Reports That a historic clash between two West African giants awaits in the final of the 2023 AFCON. Can Nigeria overcome Cote d’Ivoire and claim their fourth continental crown?
Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will face each other in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tonight, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the continent’s most successful teams. The Super Eagles are aiming to win their fourth AFCON title, while the Elephants are seeking their third. In this article, we will analyze how Nigeria can overcome the challenge of their West African rivals and bring the trophy home.
History and Rivalry
The history and rivalry between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in previous AFCON tournaments and other competitions is long and fierce. In fact, they have met seven times in the AFCON, with Nigeria winning four times, Cote d’Ivoire winning twice, and one draw. One of the most memorable matches between the two teams was the 1994 AFCON final, where Nigeria defeated Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 with goals from Emmanuel Amuneke and Rashidi Yekini. Another memorable match was the 2013 AFCON quarter-final, where Nigeria stunned Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 with goals from Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba.
Form and Performance
The current form and performance of both teams in the 2023 AFCON has been impressive and consistent. According to the official AFCON website, Nigeria has scored 12 goals and conceded 4, while Cote d’Ivoire has scored 10 goals and conceded 3. The top scorer of the tournament is Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who has netted 6 goals in 5 matches, followed by Cote d’Ivoire’s Nicolas Pepe, who has scored 4 goals in 5 matches. Both players have expressed their confidence and determination ahead of the final. Osimhen said: “We are ready for the final. We have worked hard to get here and we want to make our country proud. We respect Cote d’Ivoire, they are a great team, but we are not afraid of them. We have the quality and the spirit to win the trophy.” Pepe said: “We are motivated for the final. We have shown our strength and character in this tournament and we want to finish the job. We know Nigeria is a tough opponent, they have a lot of talent, but we have our own weapons and we will fight until the end. We have the experience and the ambition to win the trophy.”
The current form and performance of both teams also reflect their strengths and weaknesses. Nigeria has a balanced and versatile squad, with players who can play in different positions and roles. They have a strong and solid defense, led by William Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun, who have formed a reliable partnership at the back. They have a dynamic and creative midfield, with players like Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, and Joe Aribo, who can control the tempo and dictate the play. They have a fast and lethal attack, with players like Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi, who can create and score goals from any situation.
Cote d’Ivoire, on the other hand, has a more experienced and star-studded squad, with players who have played in some of the top leagues and clubs in Europe. They have a physical and powerful defense, with players like Eric Bailly, Serge Aurier, and Wilfried Kanon, who can dominate the aerial duels and block the shots. They have a skillful and inventive midfield, with players like Franck Kessie, Jean-Michael Seri, and Max Gradel, who can dribble, pass, and shoot with flair. They have a potent and clinical attack, with players like Pepe, Wilfried Zaha, and Jonathan Kodjia, who can score goals from any angle and distance.
Strategies and Tactics
The possible strategies and tactics that Nigeria can employ to win the match are based on their strengths and the weaknesses of their opponents. Nigeria can use their speed and creativity to create chances and score goals against Cote d’Ivoire’s defense, which has been prone to mistakes and lapses in concentration. A good example of this was Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Cameroon in the quarter-finals, where Nigeria scored three goals in 15 minutes, thanks to the quick and clever movements of Osimhen, Chukwueze, and Iwobi. Another example was Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Senegal in the semi-finals, where Nigeria scored two goals from counter-attacks, thanks to the pace and skill of Osimhen and Moses Simon.
Nigeria can also use their balance and versatility to adapt to different situations and scenarios in the match. Nigeria can switch between different formations and systems, depending on the scoreline, the momentum, and the opponent’s tactics. For instance, Nigeria can start with a 4-3-3 formation, with Osimhen as the lone striker, Chukwueze and Iwobi as the wingers, Ndidi, Etebo, and Aribo.
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
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More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
The project ends decades search for investors, boosts Nigeria’s blue economy
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
Nigeria’s maritime sector is set for a major transformation following a landmark agreement involving the world’s largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has secured a 45-year concession to build, manage and operate a modern container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.
The project, to be developed in partnership with Nigerdock, marks one of the most significant private sector investments in Nigeria’s port infrastructure in recent decades and is expected to strengthen the country’s role as a major maritime gateway in West and Central Africa.
For Nigeria, the agreement brings to close decades of efforts to attract large-scale investors to develop Snake Island Port, a strategically located maritime asset in Lagos.
Long-standing concession history
Snake Island’s maritime facilities date back several decades. In 1992, the Federal Government granted a 99-year concession for the island’s port and industrial facilities to Nigerdock, a major maritime engineering and logistics company.
Nigerdock was later privatised and is currently operated by the Jagal Group owned by Nigerian industrialist Maher Jarmakani.
Over the years, the Island Container Terminal fell into disrepair, requiring major rehabilitation and modernization to meet modern global shipping standards.
The new partnership with MSC is expected to transform the port into a state-of-the-art container handling facility capable of attracting larger vessels and increasing Nigeria’s cargo throughput capacity.
Buhari administration approved the project.
The investment framework for the Snake Island development was approved in May 2023 by the Federal Executive Council under then President Muhammadu Buhari.
The approval authorised total private investment of approximately $974.1 million for the project under a Public-Private Partnership structure, including the 45-year concession period.
At the same time, the Federal Government also approved two other major maritime infrastructure projects:
• Development of the Ondo Multipurpose Port in Ilaje, Ondo State, with $1.48 billion in private investment and a 50-year concession.
• Expansion and development of the Burutu Sea Port in Delta State, involving $1.2 billion in private investment and a 40-year concession.
These projects form part of Nigeria’s broader effort to develop its blue economy and expand maritime trade capacity.
Construction partners
Engineering and construction of the Snake Island container terminal will be handled by:
• ITB Nigeria Limited
• DEME Group
ITB Nigeria Limited is part of the Chagoury Group and owned by the Chagoury family, while DEME Group is a globally recognised Belgian marine engineering and dredging company with extensive experience in port construction.
MSC profile
Founded in 1970 by Italian shipping entrepreneur Gianluigi Aponte and his wife Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, MSC has grown from a single cargo vessel into the largest container shipping company in the world.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the company operates in more than 155 countries and serves over 500 ports worldwide, with a fleet of roughly 900 container ships and over 200,000 employees globally.
The MSC Group also operates major logistics and maritime businesses including inland logistics through Medlog, cruise tourism through MSC Cruises, and port terminal operations across several continents.
According to Forbes, the estimated net worth of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte is about $43.9 billion as of February 2026, placing him among the world’s richest shipping magnates. The company remains privately owned by the Aponte family, with both founders holding equal ownership stakes.
Management comments
Speaking on the development, MSC Group President Diego Aponte said the company is committed to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Nigeria through this important infrastructure project. The Snake Island terminal will enhance service delivery and improve port efficiency for our customers and partners in the region,”
Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, described the agreement as a major milestone for the Nigerian maritime sector.
“We are delighted to partner with MSC in developing a world-class container terminal that will enhance Nigeria’s logistics capabilities and support economic growth,” he said.
Economic impact
Industry analysts say the project could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy by expanding cargo handling capacity, reducing congestion at Lagos ports and attracting additional international shipping traffic.
The development is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across maritime operations, logistics, transport services and port-related commercial activities.
Infrastructure expansion
Beyond the port development, plans are also underway for Nigeria’s first underwater tunnel, linking Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island through Snake Island and connecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor through Badagry.
The tunnel project is expected to significantly improve freight movement and road connectivity between Lagos ports and national transport networks.
Strategic milestone
With the entry of MSC into the Snake Island development, industry observers say Nigeria is taking a significant step toward modernizing its maritime infrastructure and positioning itself as a regional hub for global shipping and trade.
For a project that has waited for decades for major international investors, the Snake Island concession represents a turning point in Nigeria’s port development strategy and a strong signal of global confidence in the country’s maritime future.
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
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