At the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), final between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the hosts in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has announced that he will not be in attendance.
To assist the team, the Nigerian delegation will be led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu’s absence comes as a surprise, as he was initially expected to be present for the crucial match. However, a spokesperson for the president, Stanley Nkwocha, stated that Tinubu believes Vice President Shettima’s presence demonstrates the government’s steadfast support for the team’s success.
The matchup between Ivory Coast and Nigeria holds significance, as both teams vie for their respective fourth AFCON title. In their previous encounter during the group stage, Nigeria secured a victory with a single goal, scored by team captain William Troost-Ekong from a penalty kick.
In the final match, Ivory Coast hopes to create history by being the first host country to win the AFCON trophy since 2006, while Nigeria hopes to win the championship title back after an eleven-year absence.
