Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations rivals have been put on notice after Super Eagles captain Victor Osimhen declared that the team has the quality to overpower any opponent on its path to continental glory.
The bold statement followed Nigeria’s commanding 3–1 victory over Uganda, which sealed a flawless group-stage campaign and confirmed the Super Eagles as one of the standout teams of the tournament.
Unexpectedly, the result was achieved with a largely rotated squad, underlining the depth and confidence within the camp.
With wins against Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda, Nigeria finished the group stage with maximum points, marking only the fourth time in AFCON history the Super Eagles have recorded three wins from three matches.
Moreover, the performance reinforced growing belief that the team is well positioned to end its 13-year wait for the title.
Speaking after the match, Osimhen did not hide his confidence. “Yes, I would count my country as one of the favourites,” he said.
“We are one of the most feared teams in this tournament. Any team can come and play us. If they are good, they can scale through, but if they are not, we can trample on any team because this team has the quality to do damage to any opponent.”
However, despite the strong words, caution was also stressed. Osimhen reminded teammates and fans that the competition is far from over.
“We respect every team that progresses to the next round,” he said.
“The Round of 16 will be tougher than the group stage, so the boys are ready to give everything. We respect any team we meet, but we are not scared of anybody.”
Nigeria will face Mozambique in the Round of 16 on January 5.
Meanwhile, expectations continue to rise among supporters, who are eager to see the Super Eagles lift the trophy again after last winning it in 2013.
Reflecting on that long wait, Osimhen admitted the pressure is understood.
“It will mean a lot, not just to me but to the whole team and to Nigeria,” he said. “It has been a long time since this trophy came to Nigeria, and every training session we remind ourselves that we came here to win it.”
In addition, the match against Uganda carried personal significance.
Osimhen wore the captain’s armband for the first time in his international career, leading by example despite being one booking away from suspension.
“It feels good,” he said. “It comes with huge responsibility, but it helped me understand why the captain feels so happy whenever we win.”
Addressing leadership concerns, he added, “For me, it was important to lead the boys the right way and give them the motivation they needed.”
Therefore, as the knockout phase begins, the Super Eagles AFCON title push has gained fresh momentum.
Nevertheless, Osimhen insists the focus remains sharp.
“We don’t get carried away by the hype,” he said. “There is still a lot of work to do. We are taking it game by game.”
