Semi Ajayi confident Super Eagles will be ready for AFCON semi-final challenge
Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will be prepared for the semifinal challenge, regardless of whether they face Cape Verde or South Africa in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria secured their spot in the semifinals after a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Angola’s Palancas Negras, with Ademola Lookman scoring the decisive goal.
Ajayi, who has been a key player in Nigeria’s defense throughout the tournament, respects both potential opponents but stated that the Super Eagles fear neither. He believes that Nigeria will be ready for the challenge and warned their next opponents that the team is prepared to face any opposition.
“It doesn’t matter who we are playing with,” Ajayi said after the game against Angola.
“It is a game of 11 men against 11 men. We just need to come out on top. Whether we are the number one seed or not, it doesn’t matter. We’ll be ready for the challenge.
“The target is to go all the way, but we are not looking too far ahead. We are only looking at Wednesday (semifinal clash). That’s it.”
The West Brom defender emphasized that the focus is on the upcoming semifinal clash and that the target is to go all the way in the tournament. Ajayi highlighted the importance of defensive solidity, as Nigeria has not conceded in four consecutive matches at the AFCON and has only allowed one goal in five games.
“It was good,” Ajayi added. “It was a tight game. They (Angola) gave us a good game, but defensively we were solid again.
“And that gave us the platform to go on and get the win.”
Nigeria, with three previous AFCON titles, is now two wins away from claiming a fourth continental honor. Ajayi’s confidence reflects the team’s determination to achieve success in the tournament.
