'This is the time' - Chukwueze bullish ahead of Super Eagles AFCON final clash against Elephants 

Samuel Chukwueze is bullish ahead of Nigeria's clash with Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, declaring his belief that the Super Eagles can defeat the host to win a fourth title. 

In a dramatic semifinal game against South Africa, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the hero as the Super Eagles booked their place in the showpiece, saving two spot kicks in the shootout after regulation and extra-time ended 1-1.

Chuwkueze was given minutes against South Africa, coming off the bench to replace Moses Simon after the hour mark. having remained an unused substitute in wins against Cameroon and Angola.

The Super Eagles are already looking ahead to Sunday's final with a recovery session held on Thursday. 

"We are no more in the celebration mood. We are trying to recover from the game and focus on the final against the host country on Sunday," Chukwueze said to the Super Eagles media officer Babafemi Raji. 

"It's not going to be easy. Nobody told us it's going to be easy but I believe in this team and we've been fighting from the start, this is the time to bring the trophy back home."

On what the Super Eagles players have decided to do, Chukwueze said: "Actually we have decided to do so many things and all of us have talked about it, the captain and the coach. The next thing is for us to start training towards it."

Nigeria played one of their best games of the tournament in a 1-0 win over the Elephants in the group stage. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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