AFCON 2023: Ex Arsenal Star Adebayor Backs Osimhen to Score More Goals

• Emmanuel Adebayor is tipping Victor Osimhen to score more goals
• Osimhen got Nigeria’s equaliser against Equatorial Guinea
• The Napoli forward is the Super Eagles' top striker in the competition

Former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor was disappointed with Nigeria’s opening Group A draw at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations but was impressed with Victor Osimhen’s display.

The Napoli forward drew the Super Eagles level just two minutes after Ivan Salvador had given the Thunder a surprise lead against the run of play in the 36th minute on Sunday, January 14.

Speaking exclusively to Sports Brief, Adebayor, who supported Nigeria in the encounter, acknowledged the Super Eagles created lots of chances and has backed Osimhen to convert them in subsequent games.

“That’s what I told Osimhen. The most important thing at this AFCON is to create chances; this means, at some point, they will start going in.” Adebayor told Sports Brief’s Babajide Orevba.

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Osimhen scored 10 goals to emerge as the top scorer in the AFCON qualifiers, and the reigning CAF Player of the Year is expected to battle for the Golden Boot Award in Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast’s plan to stop Osimhen

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast coach Jean-Louis Gasset has disclosed his team’s plan will be to isolate Super Eagles top striker Victor Osimhen when both teams meet in their next Group A game, Punch reports.

Gasset, who disclosed that the game against Nigeria will not be a walk in the park for the Elephants, understands that isolating the reigning CAF Player of the Year will surely weaken the Nigeria attack.

Ivory Coast leads Group A with three points, while Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are joint second following their stalemate on Sunday.

Victor Osimhen battles injury scare

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Victor Osimhen of the Super Eagles is racing against the clock to be ready for Nigeria's critical Africa Cup of Nations match against Ivory Coast on Thursday.

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Osimhen, who scored Nigeria's only goal against Equatorial Guinea, was spotted practicing away from the rest of the Super Eagles squad during Monday’s training session, raising worry among supporters.

Nigeria will hope the 25-year-old will have fully recovered from the knock he picked up and should be declared fit to feature in the make-or-mar game against the Elephants.