Napoli striker Victor Osimhen expressed his joy after leading the Super Eagles to secure their place in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Sierra Leone.
Osimhen’s exceptional performance saw him score twice in the first half, setting Nigeria on the path to qualification in the intense match held at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.
Despite Sierra Leone’s valiant comeback, with goals from Mustapha Bundu and Augustus Kargbo in each half, Nigeria remained determined. In the 95th minute, Kelechi Iheanacho, who came on as a substitute, sealed the win, guaranteeing their spot in AFCON with a game to spare.
Osimhen, set to participate in his second AFCON tournament after his debut in Egypt back in 2019, expressed his excitement about featuring once again. Taking to Instagram, the Napoli talisman, who has now accumulated an impressive 17 goals in 26 international appearances for Nigeria, wrote, “Hard Fought Win, Afcon Ticket Sealed! GOD Is The Greatest.”
With his brace against Sierra Leone, Osimhen surpassed the likes of Samson Siasia, Ahmed Musa, and Odion Ighalo on the Super Eagles’ all-time top scorer’s chart. However, he still sits behind Rashidi Yekini, Yakubu Ayegeni, Ikechukwu Uche, and Obafemi Martins in terms of overall goals scored.
In the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, Osimhen’s exceptional performance has seen him amass an impressive tally of seven goals in just five games. The Napoli star was relentless in his attack against the Sierra Leonean defense, proving to be a constant threat throughout the match. His impeccable link-up play with the wingers was a noticeable improvement from the previous game against Guinea-Bissau.
Despite missing a few chances, Osimhen’s contribution was undeniable. He came close to securing a hat-trick but was substituted for Taiwo Awoniyi in the 81st minute. Although he fell short of the perfect rating, his impact on the game was undoubtedly instrumental in Nigeria’s victory and qualification for AFCON.