Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is sure that the Super Eagles will succeed against Ivory Coast, a team that holds a special place in his heart because of his childhood idol, Didier Drogba.
The Super Eagles began their Africa Cup of Nations journey with a 1-1 draw against underdogs Equatorial Guinea, with Osimhen scoring a goal for his team.
On Thursday, Nigeria will face the hosts, who currently lead Group A with three points after defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0.
Nigeria’s last victory in the Afcon title was in 2013, when they defeated Burkina Faso in the final. However, since then, they have faced difficulties making a significant impact.
Osimhen is considered one of the superstar players in this edition and is expected to perform well.
As a striker for Napoli, he feels honored to play in the same country as his idol, Drogba. Osimhen admired the legendary Elephants player during his childhood in Nigeria.
“The Super Eagles have a history closely linked to the Afcon, but since 2013, we have been looking for a new coronation, it’s been more than a decade, that’s a long time for a football-loving country like Nigeria,” Osimhen told Caf’s media team.
“We are the country of Jay-Jay Okocha, of Nwankwo Kanu, our illustrious elders of whom we are the heirs, we must restore this image so dear to our heart.
“Life is surprising, when I was younger, I never missed a Didier Drogba match. I imitated each of his gestures, and I did his celebration when I scored against my friends,” he continued.
Participating in Afcon in the native land of my idol is an honour for me. I have the impression of being reconnected in a certain way with the kid from Olusosun that I was and who had a lot of dreams, including that of one day being Africa’s champion.”
Despite scoring against Equatorial Guinea, Osimhen did not perform at his peak, as he missed opportunities that could have secured a victory for the Super Eagles. In order to have a chance of quieting the home fans and advancing the Super Eagles to the Round of 16, the 25-year-old will need to be more precise and efficient in his play on Thursday.
