Super Eagles star striker Victor Osimhen has said the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) presents Nigeria with a chance to make amends and restore belief among fans following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It has been a difficult 12 months for Super Eagles supporters, who watched in disappointment as the team missed out on a World Cup ticket through both the regular qualifying series and the playoffs, eventually losing to DR Congo in the African playoffs final in Morocco in November.
The team has now regrouped for AFCON 2025, where they have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Nigeria will begin their campaign on Tuesday at the Fez Stadium.
Confidence among fans has dipped in recent times, with many doubting the team’s ability to secure a fourth AFCON title. Hosts Morocco, along with Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal, have been ranked ahead of Nigeria as favourites by football statistics platform Opta.
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Despite the Supercomputer predictions and the growing scepticism surrounding the team due to repeated heartbreaks on the big stage, Osimhen believes the tournament offers a fresh opportunity to reconnect with supporters and bring joy back to Nigerian football fans.
“We really understand their frustration. We gave everything to qualify for the World Cup, but penalties are sometimes about luck – sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t,” Osimhen told CaliSports after a training session in Fez on Sunday.
“Now we have the opportunity to win back the hearts of our fans. I want to say a big thank you to the Super Eagles supporters who never gave up on us and stood by us through the good and the bad. This AFCON is a chance to rewrite our wrongs, and we are ready to give our all.”
Despite being one of the most prolific scorers in Super Eagles history, with 31 goals in 46 appearances, Osimhen has managed just one goal in eight AFCON matches across two tournaments, in 2019 and 2024.
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