Nigerians expect Super Eagles to own AFCON trophy – Iba

Francis Achi,  Abuja

Despite the Super Eagles not qualifying for the last two editions of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Emmanuel Iba, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said that Nigerians expect the Super Eagles to own the trophy.

Iba, speaking with  www.totorinews.com  in Abuja, said that the NFF had shown that they learnt from the absence of the Super Eagles at the 2015 and 2017 editions of AFCON by already qualifying for the 2019 AFCON in Egypt with a game to spare,  making the encounter against Seychelles later this month,  a mere tune up game in preparation for the hostilities in Egypt proper.

“Nigerians expect the Super Eagles to own the trophy as if it is the property of Nigeria and it is not of place for them to think like this, with the quality of players and football talents in Nigeria.” Iba said.

“NFF have been able to learn from the back to back non-qualification of the Super Eagles and that is the reason the NFF ensured that the  team qualified with a game to play in the qualifying campaign.

“The match against Seychelles is just tune up match in preparation for AFCON in Egypt and the team is also playing the Pharoahs of Egypt in an international friendly match this month. All in a bid to prepare the Super Eagles and I am confident that Nigeria will have a good outing in Egypt,” he said.

Iba is also the chairman of Akwa Ibom State Football Association.