SUPER Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has promised that the team will treat Guinea-Bissau with respect during their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie.
The two teams meet in a double-header for the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON ticket, first in Abuja tomorrow and then in Bissau on Monday.
Napoli star Osimhen also vowed that the team will do all in their power to regain the love of Nigerians who have been left disappointed by the team’s performances and results lately.
“We are looking forward to it, and I’m happy to be back with the squad,” Osimhen, who missed the last few Nigeria matches due to injury, told the Super Eagles media team.
“We expect amazing results from the two games against Guinea-Bissau. We are ready, and the spirit is high.
“We won’t underrate Guinea-Bissau, we’ll give them the respect they deserve.”
The Super Eagles have been far from impressive in recent months, crashing out early at the AFCON in Cameroon and losing out to Ghana in the race for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
They have also lost all five friendlies under Jose Peseiro: to Mexico, Ecuador, Algeria, Costa Rica and Portugal, all of which Osimhen missed.
They however won their first two AFCON qualifiers last year to top Group A, and Osimhen promises that they will continue to get better results in a bid to get Nigerians back onside.
“We are ready to give our hearts on Friday and also in the second leg. We will give everything to make sure the fans are entertained and that we get the win and qualify for the next AFCON,” the Serie A top scorer with 21 goals from 23 appearances said.
“I want to say thank you very much for your support. Thank you very much for sticking with me and the Super Eagles. And for your support throughout the years. I know we might have let you down in the past, and I want to say we will do everything in our power to make sure we win your love back.”
Osimhen is the overall leading scorer in the qualifying series with five goals in two matches.
While he will not mind getting more goals, the 24-year-old insists the AFCON ticket is more important.
“We’ll do everything to get victory and I’ll like to contribute goals and assists. Of course the team comes first and I don’t care if I’m not the top scorer so long as we qualify,” he noted.
The Super Eagles top Group A with six points, with Guinea-Bissau second with four. Both have played two games each.
Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe drew 2-2 in their Group A clash yesterday to remain third and fourth in the table with two points and one point from three matches respectively.
