Victor Osimhen insists he is not moved over his lack of goals at the Africa Cup of Nations after the Super Eagles beat Angola 1-0 on Friday to progress to the semi-finals of the competitions.
The reigning African Footballer of The Year Osimhen has not found the net since Nigeria’s opening 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea and has been guilty of some misses at the tournament so far.
Reacting to his four-game goals drought at the tournament, the Napoli striker said he is not under pressure to score goals for the Eagles.
“Those who know me, they know I don’t put myself before the team. If my goal comes, they come,” the Napoli striker told broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique.
“I want to help the team with goals of course, but if I am not scoring I am defending. If I am not defending I am fighting for them.
“I just want my team to be in the right mentality to win this tournament.
“It is a big prize for us, as an individual and also as a country. So I think we have the right mentality to make sure we bring the trophy home.”
Nigeria will face either Cape Verde or South Africa next Wednesday in the semi-final in Bouake as they remain on track to claim a fourth continental title and first since 2013.
“We had to make sure we went into the competition with the right mentality,” Osimhen added.
“We have the quality, we have the squad to win games and to reach the final for me.”
Meanwhile, Moses Simon, who was named man of the match after setting up Ademola Lookman’s goal, said the Eagles squad are not worried about Osimhen’s lack of goals.
The Atalanta has rather stolen the limelight from Osimhen, his winner against Angola coming after he scored both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in the last 16.
“The mood is very good in the camp. We don’t even think about this and I believe he doesn’t think about scoring,” Simon said.
“He thinks about victory. If he has the opportunity he will score. But the important thing to say is we just want to win, we don’t care who scores.”
Eagles coach Jose Peseiro also said, “I am very happy with my players.
They deserve it.
“They do everything for me, for the Super Eagles, for the 220 million people. They fight, they fight, they fight. It is not easy this tournament.”
