AFCON 2023: Gusau heaps plaudits on President Tinubu, Akpabio, Pinnick as Eagles progress
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau has applauded the contributions of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Senate, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Nigeria’s FIFA Member Amaju Melvin Pinnick as the Super Eagles wended elegantly and unapologetically into the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in Cote d’Ivoire.
Gusau, ever modest and level-headed even in the midst of mass excitement and euphoria of Nigeria’s progress, told thenff.com that he would rather give credit for the team’s advancement to key individuals who have played major roles behind the scenes to spur the team to rise to higher heights.
“Let me tell you something: that virtual interaction that our Father of the Nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) had with the players prior to the match against Angola was highly motivating and inspiring at the same time. He told them to go for it because they can do it and that they have the capacity to go all the way. The players told me his words kept ringing in their ears.
“We also commend the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic, Chief Godswill Akpabio (CON) for finding the time to come all the way to Abidjan to cheer the Eagles to victory against the Angolans. It was a very tough game but the players knew the whole of Nigeria was behind them having heard the words of Mr. President and knowing that the country’s number three man was in the stands cheering them on.”
Three-time champions Nigeria have cruised into the last four of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations, with solid performances against host nation Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon and Angola, following an opening day 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
“I must also give kudos to Nigeria’s Member of the esteemed FIFA Council, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, my predecessor in office. He has been amazing in the way he has supported everything we are doing and provided valuable advice every now and then. He is a real patriot with so much passion and the NFF is grateful to him.”
Nigeria will now square up to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the competition’s first semi-final at the Stade de la Paix (Stadium of Peace) in Bouake on Wednesday evening.
‘Prophet’ Odegbami sees Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire finale on February 11!
Dr. Olusegun Odegbami won the Africa Cup of Nations gold and two bronze medals in seven years of energetic and diligent service to Nigeria in international football at senior level. The team was then known as Green Eagles. He was the star of the 12th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Nigeria in 1980, scoring two excellent goals in a Final that saw Nigeria spank the Fennecs of Algeria 3-0 at the National Stadium, Lagos.
During that tournament, he scored three goals, just as he did at the 1978 finals in Ghana, where Nigeria picked up bronze medals after Tunisia abandoned the classification match as a result of Baba Otu Mohammed’s equalizer. He also played at the 1976 edition in Ethiopia, where the Green Eagles finished third behind Morocco and Guinea – the only AFCON played on league basis till date.
Prior to the 34th edition in Cote d’Ivoire, the one named ‘The Mathematical’ had told everyone who cared to listen that Nigeria would be champions of Africa after February 11 – the day of the Final match scheduled for the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara. Very few believed him.
Even as he addressed the Super Eagles at their Pullman Hotel in Abidjan on the eve of their encounter with Guinea Bissau (final match of the group phase), some persons who were there did not quite share in his conviction that the Eagles would be champions. Today, many have been ‘converted’, and the 71-year- old legend says he is happy that things are going according to his expectations.
“I said long before the finals that we would be champions of Africa. Many people thought I was just sounding off. Now, they are seeing their light. Everyone appears to believe now that the Super Eagles can do it.
“Now that we are in the semi-finals, I am seeing that we are going to be playing the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire in the Final. We are beating South Africa and Cote d’Ivoire will beat Democratic Republic of Congo. The stage is set for a classic Final match on February 11.”
Super Eagles fly to Bouake on Tuesday
African champions-in-waiting Nigeria will only arrive in the city of Bouake on Tuesday, for their potentially-explosive first semi-final of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
The three-time champions will continue their preparations for the encounter in Abidjan on Sunday and Monday, and will only have the official training on arrival in Cote d’Ivoire’s second city on Tuesday afternoon.
When Cote d’Ivoire hosted their only previous Africa Cup of Nations finals 40 years ago, Nigeria also played their semi-final match in the city of Bouake, against Egypt.
In what was easily ranked as the match of the tournament, the Pharaohs, led by Mahmoud Al-Khatib and including Taher Abou Zeid, Magdi Abdel Ghani, Ali Shehata, Ibrahim Youssef and goalkeeper Thabet El-Batal, led 2-0 before the half hour. But Stephen Keshi pulled one back from the penalty spot before half time, and then made the inch-perfect pull-out from which Bala Ali netted the equalizer in the second half. Nigeria won the ensuing penalty shootout 8-7.
Nigeria’s squad that day included goalkeeper Peter Rufai, Kingsley Paul, Yisa Sofoluwe, Sunday Eboigbe, Humphrey Edobor, Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Ademola Adeshina, Mudashiru Lawal, Henry Nwosu and Rashidi Yekini.
