Over the following 4 weeks, this web page will likely be devoted to particular reviews on the African Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023. The biggest and most adopted sporting occasion on the African continent kicks off as we speak within the West African nation of Ivory Coast.
It will likely be known as 'AFCON 2023', simply as it’s in 2024, as a result of it was purported to happen in 2023 however was postponed. The Confederation of African Soccer, CAF, retained the official title in order to not disrupt the biennial association. The subsequent championship will happen in the summertime of 2025.
For the primary time, the championship will function an expanded 24 African nations coming collectively to have a good time friendship and the most important sporting occasion on the African continent. There will likely be a complete of 52 matches showcasing the very best soccer on the continent. The championship began in 1963 and that is the thirty fourth version.
Past soccer
Soccer is what’s projected onto the floor. Many of the consideration goes to the very best gamers, thrilling matches and legendary groups. However beneath all of it, for extra discerning minds, lies an entire planet of different thrilling occasions, folks and locations that equally outline the folks of the encompassing space – culturally, economically, socially and even diplomatically.
It's one other thrilling world to discover, highlighting AFCON 2023's distinctive tales of Ivory Coast, the nation's historical past beneath the soccer exterior.
I’m subsequently observing AFCON 2023 via very skilled eyes. I’ll inform the story that goes past soccer and that everybody will in fact observe religiously on tv, radio and on-line, beginning with a roadshow.
Nigeria can win AFCON 2023
That is how!
A tree should make a forest.
Victor Osimhen can (and can) make a giant distinction to the destiny of the Tremendous Eagles at AFCON 2023.
That's a giant assertion as a result of when he performs for Nigeria he hasn't made as a lot of an influence as he usually does when he performs for his membership Napoli in Italy.
Contemplating how poorly the Eagles performed simply earlier than the beginning of this championship, the stress of over-expectation gained't have an effect on them.
That occurred when the group went to Atlanta in 1996, after horrible video games earlier than the Olympics. They went on to win the nation's biggest soccer achievement to this point: the gold medal on the Atlanta Olympics.
When Nigerian groups have their backs in opposition to the wall, they battle again. AFCON'23 supplies one other platform to show that fantasy.
Neglect the coach. He gained't add something to the group. He’ll solely take away along with his poor techniques and lack of ability to make use of the gamers he has nicely sufficient.
He has Victor Osimhen, the very best striker in Africa in the mean time, as his trump card.
Osimhen now urgently wants a coach who is aware of his onions. He must be his personal coach and play with objective to preserve his vitality by making fewer unproductive runs and doing extra of what he does finest: burying the ball behind the goalkeepers. Within the Nigerian group, he does an excessive amount of unproductive working; again to defend, to gather and switch the ball earlier than working at defenders, and so forth.
That's why he's not doing nicely sufficient on the Eagles group.
He should keep his vitality and sharpness for essential occasions and harmful areas of enemy defenses the place his sources are most wanted, his heading and taking pictures abilities, his pace and energy. He ought to add to this calmness, focus and confidence.
Merely put, take away a few of his defensive roles, let him think about working into areas and behind defenders to obtain passes, and focus on ending clinically in entrance of aim.
I cannot go into different technical issues in order to not spoil the urge for food of Nigerians by how poorly a group of nice particular person gamers performs disjointed and disorganized soccer.
Add a number of different easy organizational methods to the above and I can see Nigeria struggling a bit via the group matches with two wins and a draw retaining them in Abidjan, a very good win within the spherical of 16, after which more durable however profitable matches . the finale.
All this requires adopting a easy technique for the group, enjoying with confidence and with out haste, not dashing blindly to attain targets and leaving yawns in their very own protection.
The Tremendous Eagles could even shock themselves, with Victor Osimhen enjoying the important thing function in delivering the 'poison'.
In his case, one tree will make the distinction!
