Former Super Eagles captain, Jay Jay Okocha, is optimistic about Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen's resurgence in the ongoing 2023 AFCON during the upcoming match against Ivory Coast.
In the Eagles' first 2023 AFCON game against Equatorial Guinea, Osimhen, despite scoring the equalizer in the 1-1 draw, faced criticism for missed scoring opportunities. This led to a dip in confidence from football enthusiasts in Nigeria regarding the team and Osimhen's goal-scoring abilities.
During his visit to the Super Eagles team in Abidjan on Wednesday, January 17, Okocha expressed confidence that Osimhen would bounce back in the crucial Group A match tonight at 6 p.m.
"Victor Osimhen is a top-notch goal scorer and an exceptional player," Okocha stated. "He needs the support of his team, and I believe he received that in the first match. It's not common to see him miss clear opportunities consistently. I think he is determined to rectify his mistakes, and we have hope in him because we know he is capable of shining in any competition."
Reflecting on the overall performance of the Super Eagles in their opening Group A fixture against Equatorial Guinea on January 14, Okocha shared his perspective: "Contrary to some opinions, I don't believe we played poorly. There were several positive aspects in the match. The only setback was our failure to convert opportunities. We created numerous chances, a positive sign.
While it may seem like two lost points due to being favored, winning a match is challenging. This realization is beneficial as it underscores that improvement is needed in certain areas."
