Nigeria’s Super Eagles are gearing up for the highly-anticipated Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, and they’re leaving no stone unturned in their quest for a fourth title. Set to take place in Cote d’Ivoire early next year, the national team has adopted the inspiring motto “Let’s Do It Again” as their driving force for the upcoming championship.

The Super Eagles have a storied history in AFCON, having clinched the prestigious honor on three occasions in the past. They first lifted the trophy in 1980 as hosts, followed by triumphs in 1994 in Tunisia and 2013 in South Africa. However, it has been a decade since their last continental victory. Despite the time that has passed, the current squad, brimming with free-scoring attackers, is poised to be among the favorites to reclaim the title in February.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released a statement confirming the team’s adoption of the “Let’s Do It Again” theme as their rallying cry, aimed at providing them with a psychological edge as they prepare to face the competition in Cote d’Ivoire.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong expressed the sentiment of the entire squad, saying, “We like the phrase because it gives us confidence and the go-go push. We have done it before, so we can do it again. Winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire is our goal, and we have the team to do just that.”

Defender Kenneth Omeruo, who was part of the 2013 title-winning squad, shares the optimism, stating, “I look around, and I see players who have the capacity to make it happen. We are all ambitious. The team is a blend of old and wise heads and exciting new talents. We will go for the trophy in Cote d’Ivoire.”

In their quest to prepare for the upcoming tournament, the Super Eagles are set to face Saudi Arabia in a friendly match at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal on Friday. This encounter marks only the second meeting at the senior international level between these two teams.

Their previous clash occurred as part of the final preparations for the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, resulting in a scoreless friendly on May 25, 2010, at the Alpenstadion in Wattens, Austria, with Nwankwo Kanu captaining the Super Eagles and the current head coach, Jose Peseiro, in charge of the Saudi Arabia team.

Three days after the Saudi encounter, the Super Eagles will engage in another friendly match against Mozambique’s Mambas at the same venue on Monday before shifting their focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, scheduled for November. The stage is set for an exciting journey as the Super Eagles aim to make their motto a reality and “Do It Again” in Cote d’Ivoire.