Super Eagles: Osimhen raises NFF, Eguavoen 2021 AFCON hopes
It may not be all gloom for the Super Eagles when the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway in Cameroon following the confirmation from forward, Victor Osimhen to be available for the tournament. This is coming after it was also confirmed that Genk’s striker, Paul Onuachu suffered a new injury setback and looks […]
Victor Osimhen is challenged during the 2022 Qatar World Cup African qualifiers’ match against Central Africa Republic at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on October 7, 2021
It may not be all gloom for the Super Eagles when the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway in Cameroon following the confirmation from forward, Victor Osimhen to be available for the tournament.
This is coming after it was also confirmed that Genk’s striker, Paul Onuachu suffered a new injury setback and looks set to miss AFCON.
The lanky striker hurt his hamstring as Genk settled for a 1-1 draw against Royal Antwerp in Sunday’s Belgian top-flight outing.
It will be recalled that the Napoli striker was ruled out of the tournament for three months after suffering a facial injury during his club’s defeat at Inter Milan in November.
But in a statement on social media, the U-17 World Cup winner said he will be available for the tournament billed for next month in Cameroon.
“I will be available for AFCON 100% unless I’m not among the players picked to represent Nigeria,” he wrote.
After Osimhen’s injury was confirmed, Eguavoen urged him to focus on complete recovery while admitting a lot depended on Napoli releasing him for the AFCON.
“First of all, we hope that he is well and that he can recover as soon as possible. “I am sure that Victor has a great desire to play and help his national team, but above all, he must recover his condition as best as he can, and then we should understand if Napoli will let him go,” he said then.
The former international confessed that he would rely on many of the players that the former Bordeaux manager worked with during his five-year stint in charge of the three-time African champions.
Eguavoen did not, however, rule out inviting a few new stars to strengthen the Eagles.
“We will work with the group that Rohr has kept together over the years. Most of the players have known each other for a long time and have been playing together for some time, but I do not rule out that there may be some new faces in the call-ups. If Osimhen is not with us, we have other good players who can replace him,” he said then.
Nigeria is in Group D alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau will begin the quest for a fourth AFCON title against the Pharaohs on January 11th.