Current Players Won’t Win AFCON – Ex-Eagles Defender

A formal international, George Abbey, has ruled Super Eagles from the nations likely to win the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament, saying the current crop of players in the squad can’t do it.

Osun Defender reports that the 34th AFCON will be held in Ivory Coast early next year.

Super Eagles won the AFCON in 1980, 1994 and 2013 finals in Nigeria, Tunisia and South Africa respectively.

They are drawn against hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in the first round of the delayed 2023 AFCON in January 2024.

But Abbey, a member of the Eagles squad that won bronze at the 2004 edition in Tunisia said Jose Peseiro’s team has flattered to deceive with their performance in their recent games despite ending their 15-game winless run in friendly games.

The former Crewe Alexandra defender believes even if the team have Vincent Enyeama in goal, the current Eagles squad is not strong enough to compete for the title in Ivory Coast.

He said, “We are patriotic as a country, we forget to check the present weather forecast.

“This current team is not as strong as our 2013 squad and in my opinion that team overachieved based on the team they were up against.

“Even if we magically produce a prime Vincent Enyeama and put him behind this team, I still wouldn’t back us to win the AFCON. I hope they prove me wrong but I doubt they will.”