2023 AFCON: Osimhen Knocks Critics Over Goal Drought

2023 AFCON: Osimhen Knocks Critics Over Goal Drought

By Precious Oham

Nigeria star Victor Osimhen has insisted he does not care about his lack of goals at the Africa Cup of Nations after the Super Eagles beat Angola 1-0 on Friday to progress to the semi-finals, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Osimhen found the net a quarter of an hour from the end when he headed in a Lookman free-kick, but that effort was disallowed for offside.

"Those who know me, they know I don’t put myself before the team. If my goal comes, they come,” the Napoli striker told broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique.

"I want to help the team with goals of course, but if I am not scoring I am defending. If I am not defending I am fighting for them.

"I just want my team to be in the right mentality to win this tournament.

"It is a big prize for us, as an individual and also as a country. So I think we have the right mentality to make sure we bring the trophy home.

"We had to make sure we went into the competition with the right mentality,” added Osimhen, who was substituted in stoppage time after taking several knocks over the course of the match.

"We have the quality, we have the squad to win games and to reach the final for me."

The Super Eagles now advance to a semi-final against either Cape Verde or South Africa next Wednesday in Bouake as they remain on track to claim a fourth continental title and first since 2013.