“God Protect Him”: Nigerians Pray Against Injury on Osimhen Ahead of AFCON 2023

• Nigerians are praying against Victor Osimhen picking up an injury
• The forward is expected to lead the Super Eagles' attack at AFCON
• Injured trio Ndidi, Boniface, and Sadiq have pulled out of the showpiece

Nigeria’s hopes of lifting a fourth African Nations Cup lie on the shoulders of Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, but injuries could prevent that dream from becoming a reality.

The Super Eagles camp have been ravaged by injuries, with key players listed in Nigeria’s final 25-man squad to the competition in Ivory Coast picking up knocks that have ruled them out of the tournament.

Thus far, on Friday, Paul Onuachu became the third replacement player to be called up for Nigeria ahead of their opening game against Equatorial Guinea, replacing the injured Sadiq Umar, ESPN reports.

Umar's departure came just days after Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface, had also been forced to withdraw from the Super Eagles' squad due to injury, while Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi could not join the team in Ivory Coast.

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Kelechi Iheanacho is still battling to be fit despite being named in Nigeria’s final list, while Nottingham Forest’s striker Taiwo Awoniyi failed to make the squad due to injury.

Nigerians pray for Victor Osimhen

In light of the injuries rocking the Super Eagles camp, Nigerians have taken to social media to pray for top striker, Osimhen, as they seek divine intervention to keep the Napoli striker fit.

Tobi Adeopju, a die-hard Super Eagles supporter and journalist, posted on X (formerly Twitter), covering the 25-year-old striker with the blood of Jesus.

Damilare Samson also tweeted:

“Make him not just train again 😭 all he needs is to just stay indoors without doing anything until the match day.”

Peter Oni noted that the load is entirely on Osimhen at the AFCON.

“Seriously, the load is entirely on this guy. Like, how did a team with the best attack options now struggle with having just two fully fit No 9 and SS? Osimhen is now the only no 9/SS who camped with the team and is available for the match day 1.. Not Too Good.”

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Nigeria will kick off their AFCON campaign against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14, before further games against Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.

Super Eagles to name new captain

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that ahead of the start of the Arica Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles will face Equatorial Guinea under a new captain.

Nigeria is expected to field a new leader against the Nzalang Nacional as head coach Jose Peseiro is expected not to field any of the team’s regular captains.