Super Eagles’ll work hard to win AFCON, Gusau tells Côte d’Ivoire ambassador

Noah BanjoNovember 8, 20231 Mins read180

Gusau presents a Super Eagles’ away jersey to Ambassador Traore

Ibrahim Gusau, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has stated that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will work hard to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by giving the campaign their best shot at the 34^th edition in Cote d’Ivoire. The tournament kicks off on January 13, 2024.

Gusaus said this at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja when he received the Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, His Excellency Kalilou Traore. The president praised the Ivorian government for the huge investment in stadia and related infrastructure in order to be able to adequately host the continent, 40 years after the country hosted the 14^th edition of the competition in 1984.

“I have been receiving regular briefings on the preparations from the President of Cote d’Ivoire Football Federation, Yacine Idriss Diallo, who is a personal friend. I am aware that the Government of Côte d’Ivoire has really invested in stadia and general infrastructure to make the AFCON a success and a huge spectacle.

**Gusau (middle) with Ambassador Traore (second from right), H.E. Agara (second from left), Olajire (left) and Karim (right)**

“Our two teams (Super Eagles and Elephants) are in the same group at the finals, and it would be a very interesting game when we play on January 18. We know the whole of Africa and even the world will be focused on Côte d’Ivoire before, during and after the AFCON, and our team will be ready to do its best. When Côte d’Ivoire hosted the AFCON in 1984, our Eagles finished second. This time, we will work very hard to emerge as champions.”

Earlier, Ambassador Traore congratulated the NFF on the fact that Nigeria is one of the 24 participating nations at the upcoming AFCON and used the opportunity to invite the NFF leadership to the Ivorian National Day, to be celebrated at the Embassy of Cote d’Ivoire on Friday, November 17.

“We want the NFF to be part of the event. The Ivorian National Day is usually celebrated in August, but it was postponed this year because of the death of our former President, Dr Henri Konan Bedie. We also want to use the opportunity to launch a promotional programme ahead of the AFCON, which our country is hosting early next year.”