Unknown to many football fans, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, predicted a Nigeria/Cote d’Ivoire final shortly after the Nigeria Super Eagles defeated the Palancas Negras of Angola at the quarter-final stage of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) football fiesta.
Speaking shortly after the qualification of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the semi-finals with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) via Zoom, Akpabio categorically declared that he was very sure of the qualification of the Super Eagles for the finals and was also very certain that the finals would be between Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
Akpabio, who assured the team of the support of the Federal Government and Nigerians in their quest to win the coveted trophy, stated, “I congratulate our players for emerging victorious today over the Palancas Negras. I led a mighty Federal Government delegation to Coted’Ivoire, just to reassure the team that the Federal Government and Nigerians were solidly behind them and would stand by them till the finals.
“The visit was also to further reassure our teeming youths that the current government in Nigeria is a youth-friendly one and would do everything within its powers to assist them in developing their potential for national development,” he declared.
According to Akpabio, “Nigeria will meet Cote d’Ivoire at the finals. Nigeria will defeat them but will leave the trophy behind for them to celebrate with in recognition of their fantastic hosting of the football tournament. After that, the cup will be returned to Nigeria as the champions.
As predicted by the sports-loving Senate President, who built a world-class stadium in Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as governor to enhance sports development, the Super Eagles defeated the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday. This set up a clash with the Elephant of Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday to determine the continent’s King of the Round Leather Game.
