Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has apologised to Nigerians following the team’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, while assuring fans that the squad is determined to perform strongly at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen’s comments were shared on Sunday by CAF-accredited photojournalist Pooja on X.
The Napoli forward said expectations around the Super Eagles are very high but insisted that the players and coaching crew are not under pressure, stressing confidence in the quality within the team.
“The expectation is really high, not just within the camp but also from the Super Eagles fans all over the world. I think inasmuch as the expectation is high, there is not a single pressure among my teammates, myself and also the coach because we know the kind of quality we possess,” Osimhen said.
He described the AFCON tournament as a chance for the team to make amends after the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup.
“This AFCON is an opportunity for us to try to right our wrongs, to try to make the Super Eagles fans all over the world believe that there is so much more that we can give,” he said.
Osimhen also openly apologised to Nigerians over the failed World Cup qualification, admitting that he understands the pain many fans felt.
“We’re so sorry, we have to use the opportunity to say we’re so sorry for not getting the World Cup ticket. I know the disappointment on the faces of a lot of Nigerian fans. Life has happened, so we have to keep it moving,” he stated.
Despite the setback, the striker expressed optimism about Nigeria’s chances at the AFCON, noting that success would require hard work and total commitment from the players.
“This AFCON is an opportunity for us to do well and try to make sure that we win the tournament. Of course, it’s not going to be easy, we have to fight for every game, we have to fight for every ball. We have to try to win every game and try to see if we can get to the final and that’s where we’ll win it,” Osimhen said.
The Super Eagles are currently competing at the Africa Cup of Nations, with fans hoping the team can bounce back from the World Cup disappointment and challenge strongly for the title.
