Against all odds, the much anticipated 33rd edition of the rescheduled African Cup of Nations eventually kicked off in Cameroon as the host came from a goal down to win 2-1 over Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium.

African biggest stars across Europe flying the colors of their national teams, as 24 nations compete against each other to determine the next champion of the continent, grabbing the attention of the world with the biggest football showpiece on the African continent.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria's quest for a fourth title has been marred with lots of crises from missing a couple of players due to injuries, COVID restrictions, and the Club's refusal to release them for National duties. Emmanuel Dennis of Watford and Odion Ighalo who retired after the last edition of the tourney as the top scorer were both not released by their respective teams while Victor Osimhen of Napoli got injured but recovered did not get the green light from the Italian club to be part of the Nigerian National team in Cameroon.

Another setback is the sacking of the Super Eagles gaffer a few weeks before the AFCON after a five-year reign of instability and no progression though it came too late, it has been long coming but the Nigerian Football Federation left it late to make things difficult for Former Super Eagles captain and Technical Director of the NFF, Austin Eguavoen who is now the interim coach that will be leading the team from the sidelines in Cameroon.

With the Super Eagles opening their campaign with a fixture against not just record winners of the competition, Egypt will be led by one of the best footballers in the world Mohammed Salah. Nigerians home and abroad are Keeping their optimism but are keeping it in the realm of reality with many not expecting much from the team.

The quest for the fourth looks unrealistic, the Super Eagles might be cast in bronze but still capable of putting things truly Golden, it's the ‘spirit of Naija no dey carry last’. The team is capable of defying odds especially in a competition the African Giants have participated in 18 times and made it to the podium 15 times, winning the tournament in 1980, 1994 and 2013. The last time the team returned home empty-handed was in Ghana in 2008 when German coach Berti Vogts led the Eagles to their worst outing on the continent since Libya 1982.

Despite the crisis and drama surrounding the team, there are so many players in the squad who have a lot to prove and with many not expecting much from them it could be an opportunity to play under no pressure with interim Coach Eguavoen in line to make history as the third person to win the trophy both as manager and player.