AFCON Winner Warns That Osimhen and Boniface’s Partnership Could Spell Trouble for Nigeria

• The Super Eagles of Nigeria are currently blessed with an array of attacking talents
• Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface stand out as the best among the list of attackers
• A former AFCON winner has explained why having the duo could be a problem for Nigeria

Fans of the Super Eagles of Nigeria often find themselves counting their lucky stars for having players like Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface on their national team.

Many have subtly started counting down the days as they look to see the marquee duo wreak havoc on opposition teams with reckless abandon.

Even former Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, and other football experts have pointed out that the absence of the Osimhen and Boniface duo during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, significantly impacted Nigeria's performance.

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However, despite the current optimism surrounding these players, a cautionary note has been sounded by a former Super Eagles defender. He warns that relying too heavily on such talented individuals could potentially backfire and become a major weakness for the team.

Ex Nigeria defender on Osimhen and Boniface

In an interview with the media outlet OwnGoalNigeria, former Super Eagles defender, Efe Ambrose, cautioned that the pairing of both players could pose a challenge for the Nigerian team.

“Having two good players in different teams with different formations is not the same as having them in the same team. Both players are key attackers in their clubs, so if they both play for Nigeria, one might have to play in a different position or sit on the bench.

Boniface plays at the top of the attack, where he gets the ball, similar to Osimhen at Napoli. While a 4-4-2 formation might seem good in theory, there could be serious problems with both players getting in each other's way in the penalty area.”

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The sentiments of the 2013 AFCON winner mirror those of Fleetwood Town U23 coach, Ayere Sylvester, who, in an interview with Sports Brief, emphasised the potential challenges Nigeria might face in integrating both Boniface and Osimhen into the same starting lineup.

Nevertheless, amid the ongoing discussions, it is essential to acknowledge that the responsibility lies with the next Nigeria coach to devise the most suitable tactics for the team.

Amunike speaks on coaching Nigeria

Sports Brief in another report stated that the coach of the former Nigerian international, Emmanuel Amunike, has explained why he is the perfect candidate for the Super Eagles.

The 53-year-old is reported to be on the final shortlist of the country's football federation.