Nigeria capable of winning Africa Cup of Nations, says Victor Osimhen

The Super Eagles are three-time winners of the biennial competition but last claimed top honours back in 2013, after victories in 1980, 2000.

They failed to qualify for two successive AFCON's from 2015 to 2017 but ended third in 2019, while making it to the last 16 in the most recent competition in 2021.

Nigeria though missed out on qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the recently crowned African Player of the Year is hoping to make up for that disappointment.

Reflecting on their World Cup woe, Osimhen explained, in the Citizen: "We could not have asked for more from our supporters in Abuja that night.

"They roared us on from the first whistle to the last. The noise they created was deafening. but we let them down and that hurt. Nigerians deserved better."

Nigeria will face hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea in Group A when the competition kicks off, on January 13.

Osimhen added: "We are capable of winning this tournament because the squad is packed with players who are performing exceptionally well for their European clubs.

"All of us are desperate to make up for failing to reach the 2022 World Cup. The only way we can achieve that goal is by wining the Cup of Nations."

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