It’s amazing to think that Nigeria have only won the Africa Cup of Nations once in the past 30 years.
A country that has perhaps supplied more top talent to the biggest clubs in Europe and beyond, the Super Eagles have simply been unable to turn that conveyor belt of stars into trophies.
Perhaps AFCON 2023 will signal the start of a renaissance in Nigerian football?
Up for the Cup
They were forced to wait by their opponents Sierra Leone, but Nigeria finally booked their place at the tournament – which will actually take place in 2024 to avoid clashing with host nation Ivory Coast’s rainy season – with an injury time goal from Kelechi Iheanacho in their meeting in June.
It means that Nigeria can finish no lower than second place in Group A of qualifying, which will be a huge sigh of relief for their supporters after the Super Eagles failed to reach the World Cup in 2022.
For those that enjoy mobile betting in Africa and beyond, it’s unlikely that Nigeria will be amongst the favourites for AFCON 2023. Most bookmakers across Europe, Asia and the rest of the world will offer odds for the tournament, with Nigerian betting sites even offering unique bonuses and promotions to celebrate the competition. Because it’s so easy to download mobile betting apps, there will be no shortage of wagers placed on AFCON.
Hard Fought Win,Afcon Ticket Sealed!GOD Is The Greatest pic.twitter.com/iWIBFGRBEH
It would be a surprise if a large weight of those bets went in favour of Nigeria given their poor record at AFCON over the past three decades, although there’s no doubt that they have the attacking firepower to go deep into the tournament.
Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman scored 39 Serie A goals between them during the 2022/23 season, Samuel Chukwueze had eleven goal involvements in La Liga for Villarreal and Taiwo Awoniyi notched ten goals in 17 starts in his maiden Premier League campaign.
The history books may be against them, but these Super Eagles can soar at AFCON 2023.
50 Years of Hurt
If you thought Nigeria fans have had to wait a long time for an Africa Cup of Nations win, what about Morocco’s long hiatus from lifting the trophy – some 47 years!
Like Nigeria, they have booked their place at AFCON 2023 with a qualification game to spare, so Walid Regragui’s side will now be looking to build upon their World Cup heroics.
Morocco delivered a true underdog story in Qatar – they weren’t even expected to qualify from a group that included Croatia and Belgium. But after defeating the Belgians and drawing with the Croatians, they progressed to the knockout phase of the tournament, where they dumped out illustrious rivals Spain and Morocco on their way to the semi-final.
They would fall short there when losing 0-2 to France, but this was undoubtedly the greatest achievement in the history of the Moroccan national team – only their AFCON victory in 1976 comes anywhere close.
Bono showed up when it mattered most for Morocco in the World Cup and Sevilla in the Europa League final.
What a keeper pic.twitter.com/nKANLvOmqy
Many of the heroes of that run – from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and defender Nayef Aguerd to attacking duo Youssef en-Nesyri and Hakim Ziyech – will be in the Morocco squad for the Africa Cup of Nations barring injury, so they will surely be amongst the teams to beat.
Can they, or Nigeria, end their long wait for silverware on their home continent?
