'They have a strong team' - Equatorial Guinea coach says it won't be easy facing Nigeria in AFCON opener 

Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Micha has acknowledged that it will be difficult facing a Nigerian side with several top players in their ranks in their opening game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. 

The Super Eagles and Elephants will do battle at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan on Sunday, January 14.

While the Super Eagles are seeking a fourth title in Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea have competed at the Africa Cup of Nations on four occasions and their best finish was fourth in 2015 whey they hosted it.

Nigeria have a host of talents including reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen while Emilio Nsue, who won the 2011 European U21 Championship with Spain, is arguably the poster boy of Equatoguinean football.

Micha is aware of the importance of not losing their opening AFCON match and namechecked five teams that are contenders to win the tournament including the Super Eagles.

Speaking to Filgoal, Micha stated: "Facing Nigeria in the first match will not be easy. They have a strong team and have reached a high level of technical capabilities, so we will try to confront them with all our strength, and it is important that we start the first match without losing.”

On who will win the AFCON, he said: “I think it is difficult to predict because there are Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and also Senegal, the former champion, Egypt, and Morocco. So I will not predict who will be the champion, but we have to wait."

Equatorial Guinea were beaten by eventual champions Senegal at the quarterfinal stage of the 2021 AFCON. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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