Categories: SPORTS

Osimhen Can Lead Eagles To AFCON Glory – Nwakali

Chaves midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali, feels with Victor Osimhen the Super Eagles have a squad capable of matching any side for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title in Ivory Coast.

The new African Footballer of The Year, Osimhen will make a return to the Eagles for the tournament after missing the team’s World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November due to a hamstring injury.

The Eagles on their part head into the AFCON tournament in a rather confident mood with a seven-game unbeaten record (four wins and three draws) and are up against host Equatorial Guinea Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.

Nwakali who has been included in the provisional squad for the 34th edition of the competition said while the Eagles’ versatility and quality are clear to see, consistency will be key to any success in Ivory Coast.

“I feel we’ve got a very good squad to win the AFCON,” Nwakali told our correspondent

“This time around, the Eagles will have Victor (Osimhen), he can lead the team to the AFCON title. He is the best striker in the world at the moment.

“I believe our squad is capable in any given game of matching any team. But obviously, it’s one thing having that and another being able to do that consistently throughout a tournament.

“We’ve got players who can play anywhere in so many positions. You never know with the players we’ve got how well they can do. We’ve had a good qualifying campaign, but we need to make sure that we don’t slack, that we keep going and keep pushing forward, and give ourselves every possible chance.”

Sponsored

The 25-year-old has been used as a central midfielder by Chaves coach Joao Moreno this season and has made three assists in 15 appearances this season.

Speaking on his preferred role, he said, “As a player, you are always adapting.

“You adapt to your teammates, you adapt to the different coaches you are working under. It depends on what the coaches want from you.

“Throughout my career, I’ve adapted to different situations and different teams I’ve played in, and I have no problem doing it. In football, you need players who can play in different positions. I’ve always felt like I can play in different positions. But I’ve always believed I am capable of playing in different positions.

“To have players like that in your squad is important.

Nwakali, who has made only four appearances for the Eagles, won the best player award at the 2015 U-17 World Cup where he captained Nigeria to the title for a record fifth time.

Nwakali featured three times for Nigeria at the Nations Cup in Cameroon but missed their last-16 defeat by Tunisia through illness.
SPONSORED
Victor Alade

Recent Posts

Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Not Responsible For Hunger, Stampede — FG

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned politicians against linking stampedes…

8 hours ago

Ohafia Community In Mourning As Trailer Crushes Many Christmas Travelers To Death (Photos, Video)

Ohafia, Abia State, was plunged into mourning on Sunday following a tragic accident involving a…

8 hours ago

After 25 Years, Democracy Yet To Meet Citizen’s Expectations — Bugaje

An Islamic scholar and political activist, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has highlighted the inability of the…

14 hours ago

Tinubu’s 2025 Budget Full Of Unrealistic Expectations, Says SDP’s Adebayo

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, Prince…

16 hours ago

VP Shettima Saddened Over Stampedes That Killed Dozens Of People, Says It’s National Tragedy

Vice President Kashim Shettima has mourned the victims of the recent tragic stampedes that claimed…

16 hours ago

Yuletide: NACA Urges Nigerians To prioritize Their Health, Know Their HIV Status

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has advised Nigerians to prioritize their health…

18 hours ago