2013 AFCON winner Ambrose urges Super Eagles to play better ahead of must-watch game against CIV

Nigeria had an underwhelming start to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in a Group A game on Sunday afternoon. 

Iban Salvador gave the underdogs the lead in the 36th minute but African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen equalized two minutes later and missed a great opportunity to net the winning goal in the second half. 

Nigeria have to be stronger in the next game as it's going to be tougher against the Elephants, who started their campaign with a routine 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

Manager Jose Peseiro did not have the full complement of his players until Monday with the arrival of Terem Moffi and two other players in the shape of Kelechi Iheanacho and Paul Onuachu joined the team late, in the morning of the game against Equatorial Guinea. 

A former Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria, Efe Ambrose has urged the Super Eagles not to panic but stressed that the team coached by Jose Peseiro has to get better and play more as a unit.
 

Speaking to the BBC, Ambrose said: "You have to play first as a team - it is not about individuals. I think that is what we are lacking right now - that team, that togetherness.

"I don't think that it's not there, but it is not up to where it should be.

"Individuals will have the talent, they have everything but it is about how to assemble the right players with quality together, to work together as one."

Nigeria have started preparations for the must-watch game against Ivory Coast, with a training session held at the Ecole Nationale de la Police on Monday afternoon.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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