![\"Can](\"http:\/\/www.allnigeriasoccer.com\/..\/football_pics\/83426NG1.png\")
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The Africa Cup of Nations has kicked off and we\u2019ve already seen the Super Eagles slump to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea. Despite many seeing them as a rising team in African football, there\u2019s no denying Nigeria should\u2019ve won comfortably.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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In a team with top talents such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and many more, the Super Eagles must up their game if they\u2019re to stand a chance of lifting the trophy for the first time since 2013. Many of the leading bookmakers,such as Curacao sports betting sites<\/a>, have them as the sixth favourites. That feels generous right now – but can Nigeria\u2019s greatest football talents defy the odds and lift the cup?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A Tough Group Lies Ahead<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The other two teams in Nigeria\u2019s group are Cote D\u2019Ivoire and Guinea Bissau. The Former are hosting the tournament and come in as third favourites from the bookmakers. They\u2019ve always been an impressive team, yet have a history of underperforming when they\u2019re expected to do well.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Still, this powerhouse of African football stands in the way of Nigeria and the knockout stages. If the Super Eagles stand a chance of making it through, they must play better against CIV. A draw is the bare minimum but a win will make fans feel more confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Is it possible?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Strangely enough, the two teams rarely play each other. Their last meeting was in 2015 when a Soloman Kalou goal won it for CIV. \u00a0Prior to that they played twice in 2013 with the matches ending 2-0 to CIV and 2-1 to Nigeria.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The scariest thing for the Super Eagles is that CIV are playing at home – they\u2019ve only lost twice at home since 2019 and one of those defeats was on penalties to Egypt. It puts into perspective the mammoth task up ahead.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Super Eagles Must Turn Their 2023 Form Around<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To say the Super Eagles have been stagnant would be an understatement. As a squad, they ended 2023 with only 4 wins, none of which were particularly impressive. They haven\u2019t beaten a side of any real note since downing Ghana in 2022 on penalties.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a worrying trend if we look at the squad\u2019s last 5 matches before the tournament began:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Add the 1-1 draw from a few days ago to this list and you spot a clear pattern – the Super Eagles can\u2019t stop conceding goals. A leaky defence puts pressure on the men upfront and there\u2019s only so much Osimhen can do. Something has to change if they want to get out of their group and go on a run this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Injury Woes Compound The Problem<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The pressure on Osimhen to score goals intensified after the Super Eagles lost Victor Boniface to injury. The Leverkusen attacker has been in electric form this season and would undoubtedly cause a serious threat alongside Osimhen for the national side.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
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