Sports
Eagles Need Osimhen At AFCON – Ighalo
Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo is hoping that Victor Osimhen will recover in time to lead Nigeria’s attack at the forthcomiong Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon as he will be ‘needed’ at the tournament.
Napoli forward Osimhen suffered a serious injury to his eye socket after collision with Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar earlier this month.
The 22-year-old required surgery, including six plates in his face, after his eye came out of its socket in the clash.
Tidesports source reports that Osimhen was ruled out of action for the next three months, which would include the AFCON.
But Ighalo, who recently returned to the international fold after an early retirement, says he is hoping for a miracle to see the youngster in Cameroon.
“I spoke to him after his surgery to wish him well, and to tell him that this is one of those things that happen,” Ighalo said.
“I am praying by God’s grace for him to recover. We need Osimhen at the Nations Cup.
“He is young, he is a fighter and he will come back stronger than before and make it to the AFCON. We will see him there doing well as he has been doing because this is his time and he needs to shine.”
It would be recalled that the 32-year-old announced his retirement from international football the day after helping Nigeria claim bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, but found himself running out in green and white again as the team battled to a nervy 1-1 draw against Cape Verde last month.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
