By Victor Okoye
Abidjan, Jan. 20, 2024 (NAN) Some fans have attributed the Super Eagles victory against hosts Cote d’Ivoire to the full support they received from the Nigerian Supporters’ Club.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria landed a major blow in the race for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON knockout qualification by defeating hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in Thursday’s titanic Group A clash.
In front of a packed Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, the two African heavyweights served up a pulsating contest.
The Ivorian fans were silenced when William Troost-Ekong converted a 54th-minute penalty after Victor Osimhen was fouled.
Despite relentless roars of support, the Elephants could not find an equaliser as the Super Eagles held on for a famous victory.
Nigeria managed the closing stages expertly to condemn the stunned Elephants to their first defeat.
The Super Eagles stood tall in the face of intense Ivorian pressure to land a psychological blow on one of Africa’s proudest footballing nations.
The 1-0 triumph lifts Nigeria level on four points with surprise package Equatorial Guinea at the Group A summit.
Cote d’Ivoire remain third on three points and likely need to beat Equatorial Guinea to reach the knockouts.
By subduing the hosts in their own imposing fortress, Nigeria have emphatically revived their AFCON campaign.
A cross section of football fans
who spoke to NAN noted that the support the Super Eagles received was unprecedented.
Mr. Felix Afolabi, a business man and owner of the foremost popular Nigerian restaurant in Cote d’Ivoire known as “Ejigbo Parapo” said the support for the team was all-inclusive and a beauty to behold.
Afolabi noted that lots of Nigerians residing in Cote d’Ivoire turned out in their numbers to support the Super Eagles which was key to the team’s victory.
“From our end here, we were able to rally our family and friends residing in various communities in the country to come and give our darling team the much needed support.
“We thank God that it all paid off at the end and we were able to beat our noisy neighbours at their own backyard,”Afolabi aka “Don P” who also owns a travel agency known as Don Travels and Tour in Cote d’Ivoire said.
Also, Atoyeje Emmanuel Mayowa, a Consultant with Don Travels and Tour said he was confident that the Super Eagles would defeat Cote d’Ivoire even before the match started.
He noted that the support for the team could not be emphasised, adding that even some locals were turn in between supporting the Super Eagles and the hosts.
“We enjoyed lots of local support here in Cote d’Ivoire and so we were confident going into the match.
“Even though we were out-numbered fair and square by the home crowd, our voices were still heard loud and clear by the boys who didn’t fail to impress the fans,” he said.
The National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) Rev. (Amb)Samuel Ikpea said the club’s full and total support for the Super Eagles was instrumental to Nigeria’s victory against Cote d’Ivoire.
Ikpea told NAN that the suportthe Super Eaglesrecieved from the NFSC duringthe matchwas resounding and unprecedented like never before.
“Though we were submerged from every side by the home crowd,our over 700 fans were relentless in their support as they sang and danced to all the way to beautiful and inspiring Nigerian songs which acted as a catalyst and morale booster for the team.
“Despite relentless roars of support from the over 45,000 fans, the Elephants could not find an equaliser as we continued to support the Super Eaglesnon-stop from the stands from the blast of the referee’s whistle to the end of the game.
“Indeed, that was what gave the Super Eaglesthe strength they needed to
hold on for the famous victory,” he said.
He appreciated all the sponsors including, Demillier industries makers of classic peanut, and sifa, Goldberg, Life and ZAGG energydrink who he noted contributed their quota in one way or the other to assist the NFSC to achieve its goals.
He called on other sponsors to come on board,adding that the NFSC was poisedand battle ready to give the boys support in their final group game against Guinea-Bissauto ensure they qualifytop of their group and go all the way to the final.
“We are calling on other corporate bodies, private organisations and philanthropiststo give up that financial backing that can help us continue with the good work we are doing here as the 12th man on the pitch for the Super Eagles.
“We believe that beyond beating the hosts at their own backyard, we can go all the way to bring the trophy home with the much-needed support,” he said.
Similarly, Bright Osundu, the Vice chairman, Cote d’Ivoire NFSC chapter said the arrival of the NFSC president just in time for the crucialmatchwas a game changer.
He noted that Ikpea had to rush out of Abuja when the event scheduled to decorate the APC National Chairman and generate more financial support for the NFSC was delayed.
“Ikpea had to board a flight from Abuja to Lagos straight to the international airportto connect Abidjan.
“As a matterof fact, if these supporters were present last Sunday, the Super Eagles would have beaten Equatorial Guinea.
“Indeed, the energyand charisma the chairman brought into Abidjan was top notch,”he said.
Osundu who doubles as the mobilisation committee chairman addedthat he was able to also generate alot of local support from Cote d’Ivoire which made up for the over 700 fans that cheered the team to victory.
“I dedicate the victoryagainst the Ivorians to the Chairman, and all members of NFSC worldwide, they are amazing and will be ready to support the team in their next game and throughout the tournament, against all odds,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
