Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, having secured the Serie A title and African Footballer of the Year, expresses his eagerness to win the Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
The 25-year-old striker, currently in Abidjan for the AFCON, sees victory in the tournament as a pinnacle moment in his career.
Osimhen, undaunted by the spotlight, reflects on his achievements and aspirations. He acknowledges the influence of Nigerian legends Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, aiming to join their ranks with an AFCON triumph. Despite a disappointing draw in their opening game, Osimhen is optimistic about Nigeria’s potential in the tournament.
The lithe forward, fresh from signing a new contract at Napoli, insists on his happiness and “good relationship” with Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis. Osimhen’s previous AFCON experiences were frustrating, featuring sparingly in 2019 and missing the 2022 edition due to a facial injury.
“In 2019 when I came, Ighalo was there. He is a big brother to me, so it was important for me to go through this learning process from him, to get this experience,” Osimhen said.
“Now I am here. It is a dream come true for me. I don’t want to put myself in the centre but of course a lot of people say this. I think I am more of like a team player.”
Osimhen scored in Nigeria’s opening Group A game against Equatorial Guinea, which ended in a draw, intensifying the pressure before facing the hosts.
“The first game was really disappointing,” he said. “Going forward we need to make sure we get it right in the next game, which is against a tougher opponent.”
