Nigeria take on South Africa in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 on Wednesday, 07 February in Bouake.
This will be a meeting of two old-time foes with a strong rivalry that has been dominated by Nigeria in the 14 times that they have met where Nigeria won 7, lost 2 and drew the other 5.
A man who knows a lot about this meeting is non-other than TotalEnergies CAF AFCON winning star, Daniel Amokachi who won it as a player in 1994 as well as assistant to the late Stephan Keshi when the Super Eagles lifted the title on South African soil in 2013.
The Bull, as he was affectionately known during his playing days is amongst the star-studded line up of CAF commentators and analysts in Cote d’ivoire.
In this sit down with CAFOnline, he goes down memory lane on the 1994 success, honors the late Stephan Keshi and shares his views on the similarities between the current Super Eagles generation to that of 1994 and 2013.
Daniel we are just a few days away from resuming the competition but just briefly take us back to your playing days and the success of your generation.
The 1994 success actually started in 1989 when Clemens Westerhof came in charge of the Nigerian national team. Him going around the country selecting quality players. I remember when he met me first, it was actually here in Abidjan (laughs) when we were playing Asec Mimosas in the WAFU Cup final where we won 3-1 and I scored a brace.
He came into the locker room, and I was told there is someone who wanted to see me. I was 16 at the time and when I met him, he said I had a wonderful game and wanted me to play for the Nigerian national team. I said I was too young, and he insisted and said we will qualify for the WC for the first time, and we will win the AFCON. It didn’t make sense but years later, it did and that’s why I always say the 1994 success started in 1989.
We played the slickest football in 1994 and till date, people still reminisce about it.
Looking at your AFCON 1994 triumph, any similarities you can draw from the 1994, 2013 and 2023 generations?
Similarities in a couple of ways. First of all, the big boss, Stephan Keshi won it for us. It was a really great loss for Nigerian and global football because he was destined to be one of the greatest coaches from Africa.
We drew our first and second game in 2013. Nigeria drew their first game here and similarities are that Keshi was almost sacked after the first game, Peseiro was almost sacked in the first game.
The way we won it in 2013 it similar to what is happening. We grew from strength to strength one game at a time and 2023 is similar. Game 1 wasn’t good, game 2 got a big better, game 3 still shaky, game 4 starting to shape up and this is what has happened this year where we are peaking at the right time.
I think in 2013 we had individual quality like Sunday Mba who won it for us which is needed at times for such competition.
We had Emenike, and now we have Moses, so the strength upfront is similar. At the back we had the big man, Joseph Yobo and now we Ekong showing that leadership and a rock in the back.
What do you make of this current South African team compared to previous years?
I’m a big fan of a team that is represented by home grown players. We should give credit to SAFA and the League. The League is doing well and that is why we see the quality football.
They are the only country that have a philosophy that is well known so thumbs up to SA for that because it dates back to previous generations and has lived on. They have quality and it speaks volumes of the League. They also have good coach in Hugo Broos. I was under him at Club Brugge when I scored my first UEFA Champions League goal.
When you look at the Nigerian team, we have the potential and can dominate African football if we keep our minds right. South Africa has a good style of football and keeps possession well. I love their number 10, Percy Tau so there is a lot to look at and I think it will be a good game. The team that wants it more will come out top.
What have you made of your stay in Cote d’Ivoire during this competition?
First it starts when you land at the airport. The treatment, getting stamped, getting transport, driving through the city and arriving at your hotel. We could sense that the AFCON is here so big up to CAF on that. The stadiums have been world-class. The hospitality from the Ivorian people is top notch. If you have not enjoyed the football, then you don’t know football.
How would you rate the standard of football in this edition?
The shock results have been there. Equatorial Guinea topping a group with Nigeria and Cote d’ivoire, Cape Verde topping a group that has Ghana and Egypt, the hosts finishing third and now potentially going to the final. So I definitely rate it highly and I would say now at the semi-final it is already at 99% perfect and now we wait for the final for the 1%. Congratulations to CAF for making our football grow and we can see it happening.
