Orlando Pirates defender, Olisa Ndah, has named the Super Eagles of Nigeria as strong contenders for the 2023 AFCON title in Ivory Coast.
In their last engagements ahead of the AFCON in January, the Super Eagles of Nigeria recorded 1-1 draws in their opening two 2026 World Cup qualifying Group C games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, to sit in third place one point behind South Africa and two behind group leaders Rwanda.
The poor start to the qualifying series nothwitstanding, Ndah is backing the Eagles to return to winning ways soon and fly as one of the best at the Cup of Nations.
“These things can happen. “Sometimes things don’t always go as well for you, but I believe that the Eagles are certainly capable of returning to winning ways again, ” he told PUNCH.
“I always fancied the Eagles to be one of the strong contenders for the forthcoming AFCON in Ivory Coast next year.”
Olisa Ndah was part of the Super Eagles team to the 2021 AFCON. He has returned to full-fitness after a long Injury-layoff and is optimistic he will get another opportunity to play for Nigeria.
He added “We have talents everywhere and I believe I will get my chance to prove my worth like I did before the last AFCON.”
Olisa Ndah has not played for the Super Eagles under Jose Peseiro. The Portuguese gaffer had invited him for the International friendly vs Portugal in November 2022 but he missed out with Injury.
Embattled Super Eagles head coach, Peseiro has won six and lost six of his 15 matches in the dugout with the backline a major worry having conceeded 21-goals, six of this lot coming in the last four games.
Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, Peseiro will look to sort the defensive concerns and the goalkeeping situation which has pressed the Eagles down even before his appointment as coach of the team.
