- Football legend Didier Drogba praises Nigeria’s potential to win AFCON 2023 after their surprising victory over the hosts Ivory Coast
- Drogba acknowledges Nigeria’s strength but emphasizes Ivory Coast’s determination to compete and succeed in the tournament
Ivory Coast football legend Didier Drogba believes that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have the potential to go all the way and clinch the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, currently taking place in his native Ivory Coast.
Drogba’s positive remarks follow Nigeria’s impressive 1-0 victory over the hosts, secured by William Troost-Ekong’s penalty—a result that caught many by surprise given the perceived strength of Jose Peseiro’s team.
In an interview monitored by Official54fx, the former Chelsea striker admitted that Nigeria could aim for the tournament finals despite not being among the favourites. Drogba stated, “They can go far. But we [Ivory Coast] still have to finish before them.”
Expressing his desire for Ivory Coast’s success, Drogba emphasized the importance of the best team winning. He acknowledged Nigeria’s commendable performance and stated, “But we are going to fight till the end because we play at home and we want to show that we can host the competition [but can also win it].”
Currently occupying the second spot in Group A with four points from two matches, Nigeria is two points behind the surprising leaders, Equatorial Guinea, who have already secured a place in the knockout stage. Ivory Coast stands in third place with three points and must avoid defeat against Equatorial Guinea to increase their chances of qualification to the next round.