December 10, (THEWILL) – Jose Peseiro has declared striker Victor Osimhen as the Super Eagles’ difference-maker ahead of the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. The Napoli hitman has been in scintillating goalscoring form for his country, netting 15 goals across two AFCON qualifying campaigns.
Osimhen’s 20 goals in 33 caps have seen the forward become an emerging leader in the national team. Peseiro handed him the captain’s armband briefly in September and rates him highly as a tireless, exemplary squad player. Osimhen missed the 2021 AFCON through injury but is expected to spearhead the Super Eagles’ attack this time round.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Peseiro stated: “It’s fundamental, there’s no point in hiding. The team is strong, but Victor… is Victor. I met him at the Bernabeu before the match against Real Madrid, we chatted in the hotel and I saw him calm, recharged. I told him that he would be our flagship in Ivory Coast.”
The manager labelled Osimhen as a future Nigeria captain, continuing: “He is a hard worker, a leader without armband, a tireless person. I am sure that he will become the next captain of Nigeria.”
With senior players like Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong no longer guaranteed starters, much will rest on Osimhen’s young shoulders in Ivory Coast. Peseiro is confident the Napoli striker has the ability and mentality to guide the Super Eagles to AFCON 2023 glory.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
