The 2023 AFCON at Ivory Coast played in 2024 seems to be the most dramatic and enchanted competition ever. It has produced moments that will reflect and produce a whole new perspective to how Africans and the world view and treat the competition going forward.

In the Euros 2016 tournament, we see a team that came third lifting the cup. The Portugal team drew their three games at the group stages and came up with just the three point and were only able to qualify to the next as best losers.

It became something else when the beat Group D winners, Croatia at the round of 16 to advance to the knockout stages. Football is always that game that give you something to think about - You can come from behind and do great things. At the quarterfinals, they beat Poland 5 to 3 at penalties to qualify for the semis where they eventually face Wales who were the better team beating Belgium 3 goals to 1.

Portugal managed a 2 to 0 win over Wales to set up a strong final against France, a team that has also been extraordinary throughout the tournament sitting at the top of group A with two wins and a draw. The Portugal team later won the final to lift the trophy. It is also important to note that there was a major set back for the Portugal team when the magician, Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted at the 25th minutes. The game ended 1 to 0 in their favour.

I gave this rundown to highlight the fact that we are witnessing a similar feat being pulled by the Ivorian team who qualified to the round of sixteen (16) as bet losers and now are in the final of this competition. Nothing should be taken for granted.

Nigerian patriots who have already given up on the team following their not-too-good performances in recent competitions and matches have all being joyed up seeing them in the finals of the tournament as well. Also worthy of mention is the Head coach, Peseiro who many have called to resign after the tournament being seen now as a great coach.

The stakes are high for both teams as all cards have been bared on the table as we anticipate a fierce final. Ivory coast is hosting the tournament and will also want to move their tally of two (2) titles at the AFCON to three (3) having won it last in 2015, eight years ago under Coach Hervé Renard. This is also coming the Nigerian team with three wins with their most recent happening 2013 under the great Coach Stephen Keshi.

Nigeria's pride as the giant of Africa, owner of Jollof rice and arguably the best footballing country on the western part of Africa is at stake..
Can this be savaged! Time will tell truly on the 11th of February, 2024.

Pictures were sourced from google/twitter.

https://menconfluence..com/2024/02/totalenergiesafcon2023-and-stakes.html

Today, I shall within three minutes look at 8 ways one can live a life that is better than what we had yesterday as men. The views expressed are practical, quit engaging and also simple to indulge in. Every one of us has had some bad days in the past. Maybe yesterday or some other days gone by, but waking up doing the same thing you did then will not make you any better. To get better, you avoid certain things and imbibe certain also.

Read a good and motivating book
They have always said, information hidden from Africans are be found in a book. I think that saying is true because most of us don't have time to open the covers of any written materials. We are always in a hurry to break new grounds but the needed information to do that, we don't have. We rely on a piece of advice we receive from our immediate friends and close associates.
But alas, if yesterday wasn't fruitful as you had wished, why don't you visit the nearest bookshop and shop some books that cut across your line of engagement and put yourself through and stop relying on half-baked information from 'quacks'.
Whatever you are trying to venture in today has already been tried by someone else somewhere and some of these people that have tried it have made themselves generous by putting down their experiences on the pages of a book so you too won't make any mistakes. So today, to make the best of it, find a good and motivating book and read through.

Put off your mobile phone for about 8 hours
This one may sound somehow but I assure you that it helps. sometimes our mobile phones eat up the better part of our time for the day and we are left we a tiny fraction to carry out numerous task. Why then can't you put that damn piece of metal off for at least 8 good hours and concentrate on a task till it's done. Somehow you don't have to start thinking about all the things you will lose but think about that one major thing you stand gaining when you follow this step.

Be kind to social media but aggressive to its content
Aha, this like the past point I had listed seems same but may not be. At this time your mobile phone is on, can you just be honourable to turn off your notifications? You may be kind to social media by not uninstalling those apps but you should be aggressive to those notifications that cause you much distraction. Sometimes, it could just be by turning off your phone data. For me, sometimes the data gets exhausted but i won't make any subscriptions for some time. This is not because the resources is not there, but because I know within that period, I will get enough time to help my very self. You could do same.

Don't procrastinate but always take a 15 minutes break when on a seemingly hard task
Some of us have been giving a chair and a table to do our works. But do we need to get glued to them? Are we tied to finishing a task in no time that we forget that there is need to take a break? Are you aware that if you don't take the needed break, you might eventually break down?
Please today is a new day, leave that your fine seat with your beautiful table and take a walk outside. It will help.
Sometimes the resources you need for that task you are killing yourself in there will just flow in to you from nowhere when you take a break and have a walk.

Let your favourite music put you in active mood
My earpiece is never far away from me. Why? Because sometimes relaxing could be hard but when I turn my music player and select my favourite songs and put them on repeat, they help me calm my nerves. You can always forget and overcome your worries when cool music pierces your ears. They not only pierce your ears, they also pierce your worries.

Always ensure you eat healthy and energizing food
Junk foods won't help. Find energizing food and eat and you won't get into running out of energy for your task. They must also be healthy. Some things we take in are energy giving but are not healthy. Please avoid them. I used to hear of a particular drug that some individuals take. They derive spontaneous energy from it. But that doesn't last; they get weaker when it fades away. That form of energy is destructive to the body. I learnt the drug is outlawed.
Be better than yesterday by taking healthy foods and don't forget to take your breakfast.

Don't tie yourself, get outside and have a good walk
Like the fourth, always find time after a hard day's job to have a good walk. You may not have that enough time to have a 'good walk' at work with just fifteen minutes but when you are done with the day's work, don't hesitate to have a good walk.

Allow your bed give you the much needed comfort
Worries don't buy breakfast for tomorrow but they make you lose appetite for it. Avoid worries and curl up yourself in bed and have a good sleep.

https://menconfluence..com/2023/09/eight-ways-to-be-better-man-everyday.html

Lilimax:
What language is this Mr man? No meaning please

Obiakpo! strong heart

Ndi nwere OBIAGU na enyi ISIAGU!
people with lion's heart that wears lion's head!

Kupu here!

Is AJ going to pay tithe abi tax to Ogun State government or someone needs to explain further to me . . .

SMH:

Honest Opinions . . .

1. Evicted housemates return (Obviously not viewers choice)

2. Strikes were pardoned

3. Planned eviction with Host attending PARTY
(They already knew who to take out of the house)

4. One of a love pair is EVICTED

5. Second of a love pair is EVICTED

Sometimes Votes does not count but Money do!!! Therefore the show might have been bought!

Obiakpuo!

Ndi nwere OBIAGU na enyi ISIAGU!

Kupu here!

Westbestside:
Don't mind them. And them be I never chop o.

I tire for their matter

Nigerians never appreciate. Especially keybaord e-warriors. Useful online, useless offline.

Honest Opinions . . .

1. Evicted housemates return (Obviously not viewers choice)

2. Strikes were pardoned

3. Planned eviction with Host attending PARTY
(They already knew who to take out of the house)

4. One of a love pair is EVICTED

5. Second of a love pair is EVICTED

Sometimes Votes does not count but Money do!!! Therefore the show might have been bought!

Happy to welcome a new member? then welcome me na!
Introverts rule the world anywhere, anytime..

When is registration commencing?

After the inhallationz comes the sh+it - the single.

I no wan chuk mouth though say na my state oh. All this them dey yarn, hope say justice go prevail? Thatz what we need!
#IrepISU3

Itz only in naija church that chewing is bad. Oyibo person no stay for church, im no chew cabin, lick milkose abi chew banana chewing gum. U wan kill d man.
Africa grow up biko. Na im make sin many for africa pass the whole world. To avoid sleep, nothing bad in chewing!
My view point!

No be water im suppose use there, im suppose boil and use enough sobo. E for dey more coded.
#teamCODEDtinz

vicraven:
damn! im one of those black dots

huh? Those dots are planets and other solar bodies. Thats not the view of earth, it is the universe!

samseen02:
Hope z not Eto'o dat z paying for all the espense trip coz everytin luks lyk awuf to me

stop hating on peter. Try and Change?

Lord today na church oh!
No celebrity news on Fp again, cc, lalasticlala and all mods!

I want to be FTC on every post today in Nairaland!

sen8or:
He may change faith soon.

What? To which faith, to muslin or hindu abi which one.

richardjemedafe1:
Ngozi come borrow am

ok nah!

No difference %-)

richardjemedafe1:
Abeg who get nokia torch charger??

me dey find my samsung charger head, u see 'am?

That old man is nineteen, kai football e haf suffert!
.
Btw, God bless your hussle!

kITATITA:
And Jonathan is busy collecting plaques from the backstreets of America as if there are no wood carvers in Nigeria

get a life sir and stop hating!

Wetin she dey wear sef.
. . . But . She too fyn gan!

chaberry:
Coffin sellers will surely smile to the bank, due to massive patronage from the families of zombies who will hang themselves at the sight of this pictures

Tell them biko!

The only artist without a genre.
I get big beards, I concur.
Btw
that caption might look like this if it is to be corrected "Ready To Go Praise my King BLESSSSSSSSS..."

notice any thing?

Dope grand daughter

bayulll01:
The way some Nigerian think will make you to wonder if this country if full of silly and morons,in a sane society those people you mentions there will be serving one jail terms or another.


1.Nnamadi kanu :he openly called other tribe stupid,openly seek for arms to fight Nigeria,seeking funds all rounds the globe to buy arms and preach hate and called the igbos to kill other tribe,saying they are the best in the country.

my verdict:::::::: he will be prosecuted and sentenced to death,but with plea he will be given 100yrs in prison.

N.B nothing will happen,Nigeria is bigger than any silly slowpoke.


Elzakasi :: or whatever his name,runs a parellel govermnet in Latina,even the governor and all the traditional rullers has no say when this man talk,he openly threaten and push an army general on camera,and he believe nothing can touch him.

...
verdict:::: he will be prosecuted and sentenced to many years in prisons,Iran and Iraq can send their army to release him when he lands in jail,we don't care.

N.B all the northern region supported this administrations for downgrading the man to a common criminal,unlike from our brother from the rising sun.

Tompolo ::::this one his name is deceiving him,he thinks hes the goverment that we
all must worship him,just as when they warned the past silly president that he should not step his leg in bayelsa.this one is so corrupt,he embezle all the money meant for the people,that he is so rich more than the state itself.

verdict:::::He still got time to redeem himself by visiting the nearest Efcc outlet close to him,if not,he will be arrested.disgraced and sentenced to long terms in jail.

N.B is not all ND that are silly,some are very wise and they know tompolo riddance will be good for them.


Buhari:::likes him or hate him,he is the best after chicken republic,he will makes sure Nigeria is one,I wonder what you people expect from him,when this nations has gone to the dogs.

Verdict::::he will not only prosecute all those criminals,he will make sure they spends so much time behind bar.

N.B he got nothing to loose,he's 74,all his children will not suffer again,to all those wailers get a life and think straight.

finish posting and call some people wailers that means you are a Pro-Wailer. And there is no difference btw you both. Get a life. Those first three persons are not just the ordinary person you might see on the road.

Na who this counter thread don help.

Any ways, the so called wailers can now sleep fine and have a nice weekend!