In a surprising turn of events, President Bola Tinubu has opted out of attending the final match of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, this Sunday.
This decision comes in response to widespread concern among Nigerians, who feared that his presence might bring bad luck to the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles.
Initially slated to grace the showdown between Nigeria and the host nation, Tinubu yielded to the overwhelming dissent from his constituents. Instead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead the Nigerian delegation to support the Super Eagles in their quest for victory.
Stanley Nkwocha, the president’s spokesperson, conveyed Tinubu’s conviction that Shettima’s representation underscores the government’s steadfast backing of the team and its aspirations for triumph.
Notably, Nigeria and Ivory Coast clashed earlier in the tournament, with the encounter culminating in a solitary goal—a penalty scored by Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost-Ekong.
With a significant gap of eleven years since their last continental triumph, Nigeria harbors high hopes of securing their fourth AFCON title, aiming to equal the record set by their traditional rivals, Ghana.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast eyes their third AFCON title, which would match Nigeria’s tally should they emerge victorious as the tournament’s host nation for the first time since their defeat to Egypt in the 2006 final.
