Musa, Omeruo making history an added motivation for Nigeria

Teams in a significant match closing usually are not in need of causes to need to win, however Nigeria have additional inside motivation to attempt to seize the Africa Cup of Nations Final on Sunday in opposition to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

To begin, solely Egypt, with 10 and Ghana with 9, have made extra Afcon closing appearances than the Nigerians. Up till the present match, the Super Eagles have been tied with Cameroon on seven, however will now go one higher than the Indomitable Lions on Sunday.

Yet, all of these nations have extra match wins than Nigeria. Egypt have seven, Cameroon have 5 (three of these in opposition to Nigeria), and Ghana have 4, whereas the Eagles have a thus far paltry three, embarrassing for a rustic that’s seen as one in every of African soccer’s powerhouses.

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Although the final of Ghana’s 4 was gained over 40 years in the past in 1982, it’s nonetheless a significant level of banter among the many two rivals, with Black Stars followers utilizing that lone edge to beat Super Eagles followers over the top with.

Tying with Ghana and coming one behind Cameroon would salve a few of that damage.

As an addendum to that, whereas Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana have gamers who’ve gained a number of Afcon titles, due to the spacing of Nigeria’s triumphs — 14 years between the primary and second, and 19 years between the second and third — no Eagles participant has two winners’ medals.

The closest the nation has come to that’s the late Stephen Keshi, who gained it as a participant in 1994 after which as a coach in 2013.

Now, the Super Eagles have a uncommon alternative to have gamers be part of that unique membership. Captain Ahmed Musa and defender Kenneth Omeruo have been each members of the 2013 squad who gained the title in South Africa simply over 10 years in the past and at the moment are poised to turn out to be the primary Nigerians ever to do a double.

It could be a outstanding accomplishment for each, enjoying their fourth Afcon. Musa, who scored in a 4-1 win for Nigeria in opposition to Mali within the semifinals in South Africa a decade in the past, and is Nigeria’s report goalscorer on the FIFA World Cup with 4 objectives, admits it will be a particular feeling

“If we win the trophy, it would be a big day in my life because in Nigeria only Kenneth and I would be the two players to have won the Afcon two times and our late coach Stephen Keshi, who won it as a player and a coach,” he mentioned.

“It is a feeling you can’t always properly describe. Winning the Afcon and touching the trophy is an unforgettable experience. Omeruo and myself experienced that when we won in South Africa. But I want another one and he also wants another one. The good feeling and experience must be double double.”

“It would be a special feeling,” he added to ESPN. “It shows how difficult it is to win the Nations Cup that if we win it, we will be the first Nigerians.”

Omeruo, who was a beginning defender in that 2013 squad earlier than getting injured for a lot of the match, additionally mentioned he was wanting ahead to hoisting the trophy once more.

“We want that special feeling again — the feeling of being a champion of Africa,” he mentioned. “We have not gone this far to throw it away now. We have thrown everything into the six matches we have played here. We will give more than 100% against the Ivorians on Sunday.”

But Musa was additionally fast to level out that that was a secondary goal for the crew.

“We are not going there thinking of getting a double for me and Omeruo,” he mentioned. “When we came here, our goal was to win the competition for our country and for each other. That is what we our focus is.”

A win would additionally hand Jose Peseiro his first style of main silverware in his 32-year profession as a coach. As a head coach, he got here shut with Sporting Lisbon, shedding 1-3 to CSKA Moscow within the closing of the 2005 UEFA Cup, regardless of enjoying at his dwelling stadium and holding a 1-0 half-time lead.

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Incidentally, he did win one home trophy as a coach, and in an uncanny coincidence, it occurred in 2013, the identical 12 months Nigeria final gained the Afcon. Peseiro led Sporting Braga to win the Taça da Liga, defeating defending champions Benfica within the semifinal on penalty kicks earlier than occurring to beat Porto 1-0 within the closing.

How poetic would it not be for each coach and crew to do a repeat in the identical 12 months. Peseiro has mentioned from the get go that his ambition was to win the match, even earlier than he was employed, and he insists that has not modified.

“My team has done very well until now,” he mentioned. “But we have not won it yet, and I say we want to win the Afcon.”

Nigeria have one harm concern. Left again Zaidu Sanusi, who missed the semifinal, stays uncertain. Peseiro says he might be assessed and a call made forward of the sport.

Off the sector, Nigeria have taken motion to keep away from distraction for the gamers. At earlier tournaments and even qualifying video games, authorities officers and company people have made it a degree to make guarantees to the crew in an try to fireside them to victory. Those have hardly ever labored.

Segun Odegbami, 1980 Afcon winner and prime goal-scorer, mentioned: “It is never over until it is over. The NFF should not allow any kind of distractions around the team before the match. Let us allow the boys to concentrate and focus hard on the task at hand. No frivolous visits to the team camp should be allowed.

“We should all endeavour to assist the crew. Let them be themselves and stay themselves. This is of utmost nationwide significance and all for the glory of our homeland. Nothing have to be allowed to distract the gamers from this significant nationwide task.”