NIGERIA'S Super
Eagles will face the challenge of African champions, The Chipolopolo of Zambia
in the Group C of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup in South Africa.
The draw for the
event picked at the International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa, also
has Ethiopia, and Burkina Faso in
the same group as
Nigeria.
Tribunesport reports
that
Nigeria has a favourable record over its group opponents in Nations Cup
history.
The last time
Nigeria won the Nations Cup way back in 1994, it was at the expense of the
Chipolopolo in the edition held in Tunisia.
Early this year, the
Eagles drubbed the Chipolopolo 2-0 in Kaduna when the Zambians were preparing
for the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial-Gabon, where they emerged eventual
winner.
At Libya '82 Nations
Cup, current Super Eagles' coach, Stephen Keshi scored two goals as Nigeria
pounded Ethiopia 3-0 in a group game.
Nigeria defeated
Burkina Faso 4-2 at Ghana '78 Nations Cup in a first group B match.
Meanwhile, former
Bafana Bafana of South Africa's coach, Clive Barker, says Nigeria will be
desperate for the Africa Nations Cup title next year in South Africa.
Barker told
Sportswriters yesternight in Durban that the Eagles were still smarting from
missing out from the 1996 edition and will come out smoking come January.
''I look out for a
strong Nigerian campaign,''Barker, who led the Bafana Bafana to the 1996
continental success stated.
''They could not
defend the Nations Cup title on this soil far back in 1996 and that hurt in a
lot of ways. They were brimming with enthusiasm and players like Rashidi
Yekini, George Finidi, Victor Ikpeba and Jay Jay Okocha were expected to hike
the stake but then a government intervention stopped the spectacle for Africa.
''Quite a number of
Nigerians believe the Eagles were the favourites, I also thought so but then we beat Cameroun, Ghana and Tunisia
to win the cup. Nigeria could have been beaten as well,'' he contended.
Tribunesports
recalls that former military ruler, the late Sani Abacha, disallowed Nigeria
from defending the African title due to diplomatic row between Nigeria and
South Africa.
Nigeria in 1994
beaten Zambia to win the 1994 Nations Cup
in Tunisia.
THE GROUPS-
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
SOUTH AFRICA GHANA ZAMBIA IVORY COAST
CAPE VERDE DR CONGO NIGERIA TOGO
MOROCCO NIGER B/FASO ALGERIA
ANGOLA MALI ETHIOPIA TUNISIA
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