Newly crowned African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen is a
star on a mission. He wants to transform the suffering of Nigerian supporters
into joy with an Africa Cup of Nations title.
The Napoli forward topped the African poll last month to
finish ahead of Egyptian Mohamed Salah and Moroccan Achraf Hakimi and become
the first Nigerian winner since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
It was a reward for helping his club to a first Italian
title in 33 years and also scoring consistently for the Super Eagles.
But amid the successes there was also sadness for the
24-year-old, who sold newspapers and bottles of water in the bustling streets
of Lagos as a teenager to eke out a living.
The day that has haunted Osimhen for a long time was March
29, 2022, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in the Nigerian capital,
Abuja.
Earlier, Nigeria travelled to long-time regional rivals
Ghana and drew 0-0 in the first of two matches to decide whether the Black
Stars of Super Eagles would qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
As Nigerian supporters flocked to the national stadium
expectations were high that the home team would use that advantage to good
effect and secure a place at the finals in Qatar.
But those dreams were shattered as Ghana drew 1-1 to qualify
on away goals and deprive Osimhen and his teammates of a place on the global
stage.
“We could not have asked for more from our supporters in
Abuja that night,” recalled Osimhen to reporters before leaving Italy to join
the Cup of Nations squad.
‘Let them down’
“They roared us on from the first whistle to the last. The
noise they created was deafening. but we let them down and that hurt. Nigerians
deserved better.”
Now Osimhen believes he has the perfect antidote to the
lingering suffering of supporters — Nigeria must win the biennial Cup of
Nations a fourth time.
The Super Eagles triumphed at home in 1980, slamming three
unanswered goals past Algeria, then edged Zambia 2-1 in Tunis in 1994 and
Burkina Faso 1-0 in Johannesburg in 2013.
Since overcoming the Burkinabe, Nigeria have been on a Cup
of Nations rollercoaster, failing to qualify in 2015 and 2017, finishing third
in 2019 and making a last-16 departure two years ago.
Paired with Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea
in the first round in Group A, Nigeria are expected to contest first place with
the hosts.
Teams finishing first and second in each group are
guaranteed knockout-stage places and the four best-ranked of the six
third-placed sides also progress.
“We are capable of winning this tournament because the squad
is packed with players who are performing exceptionally well for their European
clubs,” says Osimhen.
“All of us are desperate to make up for failing to reach the
2022 World Cup. The only way we can achieve that goal is by wining the Cup of
Nations.”
Ivory Coast, twice champions but flops when they previously
hosted the tournament 40 years ago, have no shortage of stars and Algeria coach
Djamel Belmadi says “they are the team to beat”.
“We will enjoy the support of the entire Ivory Coast nation,
which is an incredible asset to have,” says Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis
Gasset.
Workmanlike Equatorial Guinea have reached the knockout stage in all three previous appearances while Guinea-Bissau, who won a 2024 qualifier in Nigeria, are seeking a first finals victory. AFP