As the much-anticipated semi-final clash between South Africa and Nigeria looms in the AFCON 2023 tournament, there is an extraordinary surge of enthusiasm within the Nigerian community residing in Bouaké, Ivory Coast. Approximately 500 fervent supporters, predominantly Nigerian expatriates living in Bouaké, are gearing up to fill the Peace Stadium on Wednesday to rally behind the Super Eagles for a decisive victory.
The city of Bouaké, already vibrant with the festivities of AFCON2023, is set to witness an intensified spirit of camaraderie among the Nigerian diaspora.
Ahead of the highly anticipated match, our team visited the Commerce district, a hub for the local Nigerian community, to witness the preparations and capture the sentiments surrounding the upcoming encounter.
Adja, a local trader of Nigerian origin, shared her excitement and the prevailing fervor within the community. Born in Bouaké, Adja expressed her commitment to join the throngs of supporters at the Stade de la Paix, emphasizing that at least 400 Nigerian supporters from Bouaké will be present to passionately cheer for the Super Eagles.
She fervently stated, “Insha Allah, we will win against the South Africans tomorrow. We will be between 400 and 500 supporters going to the stadium tomorrow to support them.”
The demand for Nigerian national team jerseys has skyrocketed in the Commerce district, with most stores reporting a sell-out of their stock. During our visit to various stores, the scarcity of Super Eagles jerseys was evident, leaving only one jersey available at a steep price of 10,000.
The seller lamented the depletion of stock, indicating the heightened demand for the iconic green and white jerseys. He remarked, “It’s the only one I have left. It’s out of stock everywhere. If you find any, I’m interested.”
The Nigerian community in Bouaké is poised to transform the Peace Stadium into a sea of green and white, creating an electrifying atmosphere to spur the Super Eagles to triumph in this pivotal encounter against South Africa.
