Osimhen determined to lead Nigeria to fourth AFCON title

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has expressed unwavering confidence in the Nigerian national team's ability to secure their fourth African Cup of Nations title in Côte d'Ivoire.

Ahram Online , Saturday 6 Jan 2024,
Views:2604
Victor Osimhen
File Photo: Nigeria s Victor Osimhen controls the ball during the World Cup 2022 qualifying football match between Nigeria and Ghana at the National Stadium in Abuja. AFP

 

Nigeria previously clinched the championship three times in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

"The most important thing for us now is to go to Ivory Coast and win the tournament,” Osimhen stated during the national team camp in the UAE.

“I believe in this group, we have a bunch of talented players to execute the job, fingers crossed and we are going to do so well," he added.

The 25-year-old forward made his Africa Cup of Nations debut in the 2019 edition held in Egypt, featuring in a third-place playoff match against Tunisia.

However, he missed the last edition in Cameroon due to injury. In Osimhen's absence, Nigeria returned empty-handed from Cameroon, suffering a shocking 1-0 loss to Tunisia in the round of 16 after impressing fans with remarkable performances in the group stage.

Having recently been crowned African Footballer of the Year, the prolific Napoli striker showcased his goal-scoring prowess during the qualifiers, netting ten goals to become the top scorer in consecutive qualifiers.

Osimhen is expected to lead the Super Eagles when they commence their campaign against Equatorial Guinea in the opening group game on January 14.

Drawn in Group A alongside hosts Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea Bissau, Nigeria aims to make a resounding statement in the tournament.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

Short link:

 

ADD COMMENT

 
 
 
  • We will not publish comments which contain rude or abusive language, libelous statements, slander and personal attacks against any person/s.
  • We will not publish comments which contain racist remarks or any kind of racial or religious incitement against any group of people, in Egypt or outside it.
  • We welcome criticism of our reports and articles but we will not publish personal attacks, slander or fabrications directed against our reporters and contributing writers.
  • We reserve the right to correct, when at all possible, obvious errors in spelling and grammar. However, due to time and staffing constraints such corrections will not be made across the board or on a regular basis.

More news

More
Group A W D L P
Cameroon
2 1 0 7
Burkina Faso
1 1 1 4
Cape Verde
1 1 1 4
Ethiopia
0 1 2 1
Group B W D L P
Senegal
1 2 0 5
Guinea
1 1 1 4
Malawi
1 1 1 4
Zimbabwe
1 0 2 3
Group C W D L P
Morocco
2 1 0 7
Gabon
1 2 0 5
Comoros
1 0 2 3
Ghana
0 1 2 1
Group D W D L P
Nigeria
3 0 0 9
Egypt
2 0 1 6
Sudan
0 1 2 1
Guinea Bissau
0 1 2 1
Group E W D L P
Cote d Ivoire
2 1 0 7
Equatorial Guinea
2 0 1 6
Sierra Leone
0 2 1 2
Algeria
0 1 2 1
Group F W D L P
Mali
2 1 0 7
Gambia
2 1 0 7
Tunisia
1 0 2 3
Mauritania
0 0 3 0