AFCON 2023 - Victor Osimhen: "We will aim for the trophy"
AFCON 2023 - Victor Osimhen: "We will aim for the trophy". The Nigerian striker missed the last AFCON through injury.
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Nigeria have one of the best teams on the continent: a young squad brimming with talent and top-class forwards. Despite that potential, the Super Eagles, without Victor Osimhen, went out in the quarter-finals at AFCON 2021 in Cameroon. In Ivory Coast next January, they expect a very different story, says Osimhen, who hopes to be part of the trip. "We have an excellent team to do well, I am proud of the team", Osimhen told Wazobia FM Radio Lagos.
The Napoli striker continued: "We are fighting for the team because it is a privilege to play for Nigeria. We expect greatness, we will aim for the trophy. We have experienced players and leaders such as Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo and Wilfred Ndidi, who have been helpful to the young players."
Absent from the last World Cup, Nigeria want to win back their supporters, who have not yet got over that disappointment. "I know some fans have abandoned us (after the Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup), but I hope they will come back and support us. They will see a different Super Eagles, we are working very hard. We will have a good tournament and, God willing, we will win it", Osimhen promised.
Victor Osimhen also spoke about the future of head coach José Peseiro, whose contract with the federation ended last June. The Napoli striker would like the Portuguese coach to stay in the Super Eagles dugout. "The coach (Peseiro) is tactically solid and he has control of the Super Eagles team, which is very, very important. He knows what he wants", Osimhen told Wazobia FM Radio Lagos.
The president of the NFF, Shehu Gusau, said in an interview recently that the Federation would seek the public's views before deciding the fate of the former Saudi Arabia and Venezuela coach.