Amuneke Identifies How Peseiro Underused Osimhen at AFCON Final, Cites Adingra As Example

Amuneke Identifies How Peseiro Underused Osimhen at AFCON Final, Cites Adingra As Example

Babajide Orevba
April 16, 2024 at 10:40 AM
In this article:
Victor Osimhen logo
V. Osimhen
Napoli logoFNigeria logo
S. Adingra logo
S.Adingra
Brighton Hove Albion logoFIvory Coast logo
Nigeria logo
Nigeria
Nigeria
21
Super Eagles logo
Super Eagles
South Africa
  • Emmanuel Amuneke has stated that Victor Osimhen did not play to his peak at AFCON 2023
  • The former Super Eagles winger is in contention to become the national team's head coach
  • Amuneke suggested that Nigeria would have won the trophy in Ivory Coast with a good coach

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Former Nigerian international, Emmanuel Amuneke, has stated that Victor Osimhen was underused during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Napoli striker scored just one goal at the tournament, a shadow of his form with his Italian club.

Osimhen scored against Equatorial Guinea, won the penalty against Ivory Coast, assisted Lookman's first goal versus Cameroon, and his off-ball movement played a role in the winners against Guinea-Bissau and Angola.

Victor Osimhen, Simon Adingra, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Emmanuel Amuneke, AFCON 2023.
Emmanuel Amuneke claims Victor Osimhen was underused at AFCON 2023. Photo Credit: Ulrik Pedersen.
Source: Getty Images

However, Nigerians faulted him for his role in the final as Simon Adingra stole the show to set up two goals in Ivory Coast's triumph.

With the Nigeria Football Federation ready to name the new Super Eagles coach, Amuneke, who is a leading candidate believes the Super Eagles is a quality team.

He reflected on the AFCON final, saying most of the invited players were not used to their strengths. Amuneke told Punch:

"At the last AFCON, we allowed a deadly striker like Victor Osimhen to defend so deep and run too much.
"That reduced his qualities a lot and he was blamed for not scoring more goals and missing several chances.
He’s a striker who moves in different directions a lot and needs players to get through balls to him to be effective and get the goals.
"For example, Simon Adingra didn’t play the first game against Nigeria in the group stage, but he was a menace to our defence in the final.
"We have players that can do better than what Adingra did to our team in the final that day, but did we play to their strengths?"

Nwabali recounts how Nigeria defeated South Africa

Sports Brief earlier reported that Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, claimed that Bafana Bafana players were scared to take penalties against him at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Eventual runners-up, Nigeria, defeated South Africa in a mouth-watering semi-final clash inside the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

Nwabali saved spot-kicks from Teboho Mokoena and Evidence Makgopa to propel the three-time champions to the final match of the tournament.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.