Barring peculiar stage fright by some teams in a tournament of Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) magnitude, The Cheetah of Benin’s German coach , Gernot Rohr, has listed the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire , Teranga Lions of Senegal and one north African as the likely winner of Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
The 34th edition of the continental showpiece event will get underway in Abidjan today as hosts Cote d’Ivoire clash with Guinea Bissau at the Stadium Olympic Alassane Ouattara and Rohr reckoned that this could be the fiercest tournament ever as hordes of favourites pitch themselves against the underdogs.
The Super Eagles will begin their campaign tomorrow against Nzalang National of Equatorial Guinea in a match to be aired from 3pm Nigerian time on StarTimes Sports Premium Channel 252 and 246 as well as StarTimes-On app
Yet Rohr who led Nigeria to their most recent best result at the AFCON with a bronze medal finish at Egypt 2019, said the current Super Eagles under Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro have enough qualities to be a major contender at Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
“Yes, my team Benin (The Cheetahs), could not qualified because the team was not really in contention when I went there but it was already too late(to qualify for AFCON 2023),” the former Bundesliga defender who is one of the most experienced foreign managers in African football today, told NationSport.“ Now, we have to build new a team with almost all the players just starting their careers while some others like the captain Stephane Sessegnon has left and so we have a very young team.
“ They had lost two matches in the qualifiers and though they took five points with, it was not enough for us to qualify but I think the future will be bright for us.”
Rohr who has previously worked in Tunisia, Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon aside his stint with the Super Eagles and current job with the Beninese national team, would be the first to admit that 24 of the continent’s best team will be on parade at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, adding that no quarter would be asked and none would be given when the tournament gets underway today.
“ Of course, we have some of the best teams in the Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire) for the AFCON and with lots of favourites if we judge by the African rankings and we can see all these wonderful teams ,” continued Rohr who also coached at French Ligue 1 side, Bordeaux.“ We have the defending champions, Senegal and the hosts, Ivory Coast , Nigeria, Algeria and Morocco, and I think these are some of the favourites. “
Speaking further, the 70-year-old tactician said experience and game management would be a key factor for any of the team desirous to be crowned African Champions after the tournament’s Final Match at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on February 11.
“ Experience will count at this AFCON in the Ivory Coast,” surmised Rohr.“ Like I told you, in each of the regions in Africa , we have good teams.
“ From North Africa, we have Algeria ,Morocco and even Tunisia; in West Africa, we have the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria and painful my former team, Gabon are not but there are lots of others in the (AFCON) and in each region they have good teams
