Osimhen Provides Welcome News For Nigeria’s AFCON Hopes

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has delivered a boost to Nigeria’s chances of lifting the Nations Cup for a fourth time after he declared his availability for the tournament which will hold in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February 2022.

The Napoli striker is currently stepping up his recovery from a facial injury he suffered against Inter Milan exactly a month ago.

He was originally ruled out for three months following surgery on the injury but the 22-year-old has made a faster-than-expected recovery and has been training with a protective mask at his Italian club.

And in news that will delight caretaker Eagles boss Augustine Eguaveon and fans of the national team, Osimhen has now put paid to uncertainty around his availability for the AFCON, declaring on social media that he will be fit and available to represent Nigeria in Cameroon.

“I will be available for AFCON unless if am not among the players picked to represent NIGERIA,” the former Lille striker wrote on Twitter.

Osimhen’s availability will be particularly welcome news to Eguavoen after Genk striker Paul Onuachu was ruled out of the Nations Cup with injury at the weekend.

Before his injury, Osimhen had been in fantastic form for Napoli scoring five goals in 11 Serie A games this season. He has scored 10 goals in 18 caps for Nigeria and led the team’s goals charts in both the 2021 AFCON and 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He was a peripheral figure as Nigeria claimed bronze in Egypt in 2019 playing just once after coming on for Odion Ighalo in the third-place match against Tunisia.

Having been installed as Nigeria’s undisputed first-choice striker, Osimhen will hope to reinforce his status as one of the hottest strikers in world football by spearheading the Super Eagles’ charge for glory in Cameroon.