Nigeria have been announced as one of the favourites for the 2023 African Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Côte d’Ivoire from 13 January to 11 February, and Victor Osimhen is taking it all in his stride. The 2023 African Golden Ball winner made a rather unexpected promise to Nigeria just a few days before the tournament.
It will be one of the toughest Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in the history of the competition. In Côte d’Ivoire from 13 January to 11 February, Africa will come together for its most prestigious competition. Nigeria, three-time winners of the trophy, are expected to be at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
At the last edition of the competition, the Super Eagles put in a solid showing in the group phase, but when they came up against Tunisia in the Round of 16, Nigeria missed out altogether. The Carthage Eagles eliminated Nigeria, who had been the most attractive team since the start of the tournament and had beaten everyone.
Today, the Super Eagles have learnt their lesson and want to give it their all to repeat the feat of 2013 or 1994. In any case, they are logically counting on Victor Osimhen, this year’s African Golden Ball winner, and the Napoli striker is also taking full responsibility and putting on the pressure.
Osimhen promises to give Nigeria the 2023 African Cup of Nations
In Nigeria, the fans believe in their team. The Portuguese coach at the helm of the Super Eagles recently came out and declared his goal of winning the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
After him, his biggest star, Victor Osimhen, has just made the same promise to the Nigerian people. In remarks relayed by Nigerian journalist Olawale Ayeni, Osimhen said: “The most important thing for us now is to go to Côte d’Ivoire and win the tournament, I believe in this group, we have a lot of talented players to do the job, fingers crossed we will do a good job.”
Victor Osimhen believes in the Super Eagles’ chances of winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for the fourth time. The Napoli star missed out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon through injury, but is expected to play a starring role for the Super Eagles in Côte d’Ivoire next weekend.
Without Osimhen in the squad, Nigeria returned from Cameroon empty-handed, suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in the round of 16. However, the Super Eagles’ number 9 once again showed his qualities in front of goal during the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He scored ten goals to finish top scorer in consecutive qualifiers.
Osimhen made his Africa Cup of Nations debut in the third-place play-off against Tunisia on 17 July 2019, replacing the tournament’s top scorer Odion Ighalo at the start of the second half.
Not such a tough group for Nigeria
In the draw for the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Logically, Nigeria should have no trouble qualifying for the last 16, even if teams such as Lesotho and Sierra Leone have surprised the Super Eagles recently.
In any case, according to observers, first place in Group A will be decided between Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. And this clash will be one of the best matches of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, where Victor Osimhen will be eagerly awaited.
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