Emmanuel Amunike, former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, has highlighted the pressure on Nigeria’s national football team to secure victory in the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Amunike specifically cautioned against burdening Victor Osimhen, the reigning CAF Player of the Year and a key player for the Super Eagles, with excessive expectations to lead the team to success in the 2023 AFCON. Osimhen, who demonstrated stellar performance by scoring ten goals during the tournament’s qualifiers, is anticipated to play a pivotal role for Nigeria in Ivory Coast.
Despite acknowledging Osimhen’s form with Napoli and his impressive contributions during the qualifiers, Amunike emphasized the importance of not building the entire team strategy around a single player. Drawing on his experience as an AFCON winner in 1994, he asserted that every member of the 23-player squad should share the responsibility for success.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
“I don’t think we should put any pressure on anybody, including Victor; there are 23 players in the squad, and there is pressure on all of them to win,” said Amunike. “Victor won’t win the AFCON on his own for Nigeria; there are other players who are going to chip in and help the team win the tournament or go as far as they can.”
Regarding the Super Eagles’ group stage matches, Amunike acknowledged that Ivory Coast and Nigeria are considered favorites but cautioned against underestimating Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of football and stressed the need for Nigeria to prove their qualification by securing victories.
“In football, you cannot predict what might happen against Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. There has been a development from these two teams in recent years. They have players in European teams,” he explained. “Of course, the chances of Ivory Coast and Nigeria are stronger, but they must prove their ability to qualify by winning.”
The Super Eagles are set to kick off their 2023 AFCON campaign against Equatorial Guinea on January 14, followed by matches against Ivory Coast on January 18 and Guinea Bissau on January 22 to conclude their Group A campaign.