Nigeria defender, Chidozie Awaziem, anticipates a crucial encounter as the Super Eagles face host Ivory Coast in their second group game at the 2023 AFCON in Abidjan on Thursday. The player is confident ahead of the showdown between the West African countries at the Alassane Quattara stadium.
Following the Super Eagles 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening AFCON 2023 match. A game where Victor Osimhen’s goal salvaged a point, the defender believes the team is focused on securing a victory.
Awaziem emphasized the team’s rigorous preparation, acknowledging the challenge posed by the 2023 AFCON host nation. Stating, “All the players and the team already know the task, so we’re all ready for the game, and we will try to get a win.”
Recognizing the pressure of playing in front of Ivory Coast’s home crowd, Awaziem remains optimistic about Nigeria’s prospects at this year’s AFCON tournament. “We know it’s not going to be an easy game because they have good players, but I think we have a better team. We’re going in there to fight because we know we just have to get all the points. We want to beat them and be comfortable in the group.”
On strategizing for success, Awaziem says, “We know their weaknesses, we know their strong points, and we are just going to try to be smart and use their weaknesses, converting them into our opportunities.”
The Super Eagles is set for a challenging encounter with just one point from their opening match and must avoid a loss against Ivory Coast to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the 2023 AFCON tournament.
