AFCON 2023: Ex Nigeria International Backs Osimhen and Boniface to Lead Super Eagles to Glory

• Nigeria are heading into the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as favourites
• They have one of the best talents in attack, led by Victor Osimhen and
• Ex-Nigeria international has backed the two to lead Nigeria to glory next year

It is unfathomable to imagine that Nigeria have won just three Africa Cup of Nations titles in their history with one of those coming in the 21st century.

Former Super Eagles international Etim Esin has backed strikers Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface to lead Nigeria to AFCON glory next year.

The African football giants are renowned for producing some of Africa's greatest talents but have underwhelmed in international tournaments and the AFCON.

Nigeria were perhaps at their peak in the mid-1990s, when it won the 1994 AFCON and the 1996 Olympics gold medal, vanquishing South American giants Brazil and Argentina.

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They became the first-ever African nation to win an Olympic football gold medal.

The Super Eagles are yet to reach that level again but with the current crop of stars, some feel they are long overdue for another AFCON title.

Osimhen, Boniface backed to lead Nigeria

Etim Esin won eight caps for Nigeria and played in Belgium and Turkey. He tipped the two strikers to lead the Super Eagles to glory in Cote d'Ivoire, per Complete Sports.

“I am very confident with the crop of strikers we have presently in the Super Eagles. Both Osimhen and Boniface are good enough to lead to lead Nigeria to AFCON glory in Ivory Coast."

“They have been banging in the goals in their respective clubs in Europe and I am confident they can do the same with the team."

Jose Peseiro's men are in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.

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Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, and Morocco will be Nigeria's toughest challenges in the tournament.

However, no team boasts the attacking challenge the 2013 AFCON champions possess. This season, they have scored a combined 24 goals for their clubs this season.

Can they end their 10-year AFCON drought?

Osimhen gets second Napoli red

Sports Brief previously reported that Victor Osimhen received his second red card of his Napoli career as the reigning Serie A champions had a massive setback to their title defence after suffering a 2-0 loss to AS Roma.

The 24-year-old, who only just extended his contract with the Partenopeans, received two quickfire yellow cards as he bagged the second red card of his Napoli career.

Osimhen was shown a yellow card for a poor foul in the second half. Then, ten minutes later, he committed another cheap foul to get his second yellow and his marching orders.