Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen insists he is pleased with Nigeria’s success and not bothered about his scoring form at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Osimhen arrived at the 34th edition of the AFCON as the biggest star on the continent after he was named the CAF Player of the Year last December.
The Napoli striker and top scorer with 10 goals during the AFCON qualifiers, opened his tournament account on matchday one, as he netted Nigeria’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea.
The Super Eagles have won every other match since, beating hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon and Angola to reach the semifinals. Osimhen impressed as Ademola Lookman strike lifted Nigeria past the Palancas Negras on Friday.
Interestingly, Osimhen has not added to his single tally, as Nigeria’s goals have come from the boots of William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman, who now has three goals.
Osimhen has made up for his lack of goals with other positive contributions: he won the penalty against Cote d’Ivoire, forced the own goal against Guinea-Bissau, and assisted the opener versus Cameroon.
He has also added to the Super Eagles’ defensive solidity, helping to defend set pieces and pressing the opponents’ defenders high up the pitch.
Osimhen admits he would love to score more goals. However, the 25-year-old striker insists he is working towards the Super Eagles’ triumph at the AFCON rather than pursuing individual glory.
“Those who know me, they know I don’t put myself before the team. If my goal comes, they come,” the Napoli striker said, as per Ahram.
“I want to help the team with goals, of course, but if I am not scoring, I am defending. If I am not defending, I am fighting for them.
“I just want my team to be in the right mentality to win this tournament.
“It is a big prize for us, as individuals and also as a country. So I think we have the right mentality to make sure we bring the trophy home.
“We had to make sure we went into the competition with the right mentality.
“We have the quality, we have the squad to win games and to reach the final for me.”
