The Super Eagles of Nigeria begin their quest for a fourth African Cup of Nations title as they face Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Nacional at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday.

Despite being considered favorites alongside the Ivorian team, the Super Eagles have faced setbacks with withdrawals from key players such as Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface, and Sadiq Umar. Even Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho is uncertain for the upcoming match after a recent defeat to the Syli Nationale of Guinea in a preparatory game, raising doubts about the manager, Jose Peseiro’s tactical ability.

Amidst concerns about squad imbalance, Peseiro remains confident in his team, emphasizing his belief in all players’ abilities. However, the absence of Terem Moffi and uncertainty around Iheanacho and late addition Paul Onuachu’s availability adds pressure to the team’s attacking capabilities. The burden now falls on Victor Osimhen, the leading scorer in qualifying, alongside other notable attackers like Moffi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and Ademola Lookman.

On the other hand, Equatorial Guinea enters the fixture with motivation from their impressive record, remaining unbeaten in 11 competitive and non-competitive games. Despite their underdog status against Nigeria, manager Juan Micha expresses confidence in the team’s potential and readiness for the game.

Facts about the game:

1. This will mark the first encounter between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with Nigeria previously winning both matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
2. Nigeria, making their 20th appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, has secured three championship titles and reached the semi-finals in 14 of their last 17 participations.
3. Equatorial Guinea, in their fourth CAF Africa Cup of Nations appearance, has consistently progressed to the knockout stages in their previous participations.
4. Victor Osimhen’s outstanding performance during qualifying, scoring 10 goals and providing 2 assists, has been pivotal for Nigeria.

As the Super Eagles gear up to face Equatorial Guinea, the stage is set for an intense and thrilling clash as both teams aim to kick off their AFCON campaigns with a decisive victory.