AFCON is not a playground, Tijani Babangida warns Peseiro, Super Eagles

Nigerian national soccer team players pose for a group picture 07 October 2001 in Southampton before the start of their friendly match against Japan in preparation for the upcoming 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. (Standing, from L : Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Isaac Okoronkwo, George Finidi, Ike Shorunmu, Eric Ejiofor, Sunday Oliseh; front row, from L : Karibe Ojigwe, Victor Agali, Tijani Babangida, Jay Jay Okocha, Ifeanyi Udeze.) AFP PHOTO

Former Nigerian international Tijani Babangida has sounded a note of caution to the Super Eagles and the coaching crew over any thought that lightweight teams will be pushovers at the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria has been dubbed as one of the favourites to win the tournament kicking off on January 13, 2024.

However, recent results have shown that the three-time African champions can struggle against the so-called minnows.

The Eagles suffered a 1-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja earlier this year before exacting revenge in the return leg.

The country which missed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after losing the playoff to Ghana on the away goals rule has also not begun their campaign to reach the United States, Canada and Mexico as expected.

They had to come from behind against Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo and against Zimbabwe at a neutral ground in Rwanda.

The results have left the Eagles in third place in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after two matches.

In an interview with Brila FM on Thursday, Babangida, a gold medalist in football at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games warned the Super Eagles against underating any team.

He stressed that the national