Victor Osimhen, the newly crowned African Player of the Year, is set on turning the anguish of Nigerian football fans into jubilation by clinching the Africa Cup of Nations title. The Napoli forward, who outshone Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi for the accolade, has set his sights on national glory, reports thenationalnews.com.
Osimhen’s remarkable journey from selling newspapers in Lagos to becoming the first Nigerian since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 to win this prestigious award is a tale of determination and resilience. His contributions were pivotal in leading Napoli to their first Italian championship in over three decades, alongside his consistent performance for the Super Eagles.
However, the striker’s path has not been without its challenges. The haunting memory of March 29, 2022, lingers for Osimhen. On that day, Nigeria faced Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja for a decisive World Cup qualifying match. Despite drawing 0-0 in Ghana, the Super Eagles’ World Cup dreams were dashed in Abuja as Ghana secured qualification with a 1-1 draw, leaving Nigerian supporters in despair.
Reflecting on that fateful night, Osimhen expressed his sorrow over disappointing the fervent Nigerian crowd. “We could not have asked for more from our supporters in Abuja that night,” Osimhen told reporters before joining the Cup of Nations squad. “The noise they created was deafening, but we let them down, and that hurt. Nigerians deserved better.”
Now, Osimhen sees the upcoming Cup of Nations as an opportunity to heal the wounds of that disappointment. Nigeria, having won the tournament in 1980, 1994, and 2013, looks to capture their fourth title. According to a report by The Guardian, the Super Eagles’ recent Afcon journey has been a mix of highs and lows, including missing the tournament in 2015 and 2017, finishing third in 2019, and a last-16 exit two years ago.
Drawn in Group A alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria is expected to vie for the top spot with the hosts. With the tournament’s format, the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout stages.
“We are capable of winning this tournament,” Osimhen asserts. “The squad is packed with players excelling at their European clubs. We’re all desperate to make up for failing to reach the 2022 World Cup. Winning the Cup of Nations is the only way to achieve that goal.”
