Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has pledged that the team will give everything to secure victory at the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
The Super Eagles head into the tournament as one of the favorites and are eyeing a better finish than their second-placed finish in the 2023 edition in Ivory Coast.
The last time they won the championships was in 2013, when Sunday Mbah scored the only goal of the final match in a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso.
Speaking on the eve of their opening clash against Tanzania in group C, talisman Osimhen has expressed confidence in the team’s hunt for continental glory.
“For us, last month (the loss to DR Congo) was really disappointing. It wasn’t how we thought it would be, but life has happened, and we’ve moved on. But the memory still lingers”, Osimhen revealed.
“We want to use this opportunity to send a clear message out there that we still have it in us. I believe so much in this squad. I believe so much in the coach, in the coaching staff and everyone that is associated with this team.”
Eric Chelle’s men face Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in group C and are hugely tipped to progress as group winners to the knockout rounds.
However, the team will be hoping to put behind their recent disappointment of failing to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after losing to DR Congo in the CAF playoff finals.
“It’s all about going to war. Tuesday is the first one, and we will give everything. We are not underrating anyone in our group, but I think we’re up there with so many favourites in this tournament”, the 26-year-old continued.
“So we’re going to give our all to make sure that we actualise the dream of trying to win the AFCON. It’s not gonna be easy, we still got a long way to go so I am positive about this squad.”
The Super Eagles face Tanzania on Tuesday at the Fez Stadium in Fes, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 PM.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
