A former sports commissioner, Biyi Odunlade, said the Super Eagles could win the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Super Eagles defeated the hosts, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, 1-0 at the Stade Olympique Alassane Quattara in Abidjan in their second group A match.

Mr Odunlade said Thursday in Abuja he was optimistic that the Eagles would win their second game.

“The Ivorian wanted to equalise towards the end of the game. They made some good efforts. But unfortunately, they could not score.

“Thank God we have a good goalkeeper and a powerful defence that prevented the Ivorian from scoring.

“I ‘m sure Nigeria will win this year’s AFCON because we have a good set of players in the team,” he said.

The commissioner said that the Eagles must take the game seriously ahead of the Super Eagles game against Guinea Bissau.

“They need to double their efforts because they took the Guinea Equatorial for granted, but this time around, they need to be serious with their game,” he said.

Nigeria is grouped in group A alongside Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and the hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

The Eagles will meet Guinea Bissau on Monday in their last group match at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

The AFCON 2023, which started on January 13, is expected to end on February 11.

(NAN)