TheCable

Victor Osimhen says he wants to win the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for Nigeria and cement his legacy as a footballing great for the country. 

Osimhen spoke in a chat with Al Jazeera on Friday.

The 25-year-old striker is Nigeria’s biggest star as the Super Eagles prepare to participate in the 34th edition of AFCON, billed to commence in Ivory Coast on Saturday.

In October 2023, Osimhen was named the eighth-best male footballer in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

He then scooped up the 2023 CAF men’s ‘Player of the Year’ to cap off a remarkable year where he helped Napoli to the club’s first Serie A title in 33 years.

Speaking on the pressure ahead of AFCON, Osimhen said that he would be “questioned” if he failed to win an AFCON trophy with Nigeria, adding that the queries would be “justified”.

He acknowledged that “there is a lot of responsibility on me”, but “I’m not running away from it”.

Osimhen said every Nigerian football legend has a continental trophy to their name and will strive to be included in that illustrious list.

“We want to win every match, every trophy available, to make Nigerians proud of us again. Our coaches have some new ideas to help us get there, and if we work together as a team, anything is possible,” the Napoli striker said.

“I want to win the AFCON with my country and write my own legacy. All the greats in Nigeria have a title to their name, and to be mentioned in that space, I must win it, too.”

“Like I’ve said before if I never win the AFCON for Nigeria, people will question me, and it would be justified. There is a lot of responsibility on me. I know that, and I’m not running away from it.

The Eagles are in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria will take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening game on January 14 before facing Ivory Coast four days later and rounding off the group stage with the Guinea-Bissau tie.

Due to injury, Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles head coach, had to make three changes to his initial squad for the competition. Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar pulled out of the team due to injury, and Al Hassan Yusuf, Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu have been drafted as replacements.