Victor Osimhen is Nigeria’s Only Hope at AFCON 2023
As the African Cup of Nations approaches, Nigeria’s prospects seem shaky. The recent 2-0 loss to Guinea in a friendly match, compounded by injuries sidelining key players like Victor Boniface and Wilfred Ndidi, has cast doubts on the Super Eagles’ chances.
The team faces challenges with an uncertain goalkeeper, a midfield lacking regular game time, and underperforming wingers. Amidst this, Victor Osimhen emerges as the linchpin. With his remarkable record of 20 goals in 27 appearances for the Super Eagles and topping the goal-scoring charts in the AFCON qualifiers, the burden falls heavily on him.
Osimhen’s stellar performance contrasts starkly with the lack of consistent support from other players. Despite his individual brilliance, the team’s success hinges largely on his contributions.
In Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria’s journey starts against Equatorial Guinea on January 14th. Osimhen’s role becomes pivotal if the team aims for a longer stay in the tournament. This might just be his most significant test yet, carrying the weight of the team’s aspirations on his shoulders.