Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has said he hopes to see Victor Osimhen finish as top scorer at this year’s AFCON in Morocco.
Osimhen has been one of the outstanding players for the Super Eagles at this year’s tournament.
The Galatasaray star has so far scored three goals and provided one assists in four matches.
Commenting on the Super Eagles players who have impressed since the commencement of the tournament, Mikel singled out Osimhen, skipper of the side Wilfred Ndidi, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi for praise.
“I like to see Victor Osimhen win the highest goalscorer because he deserves it. Ademola Lookman as well playing really well. Both of them absolutely on fire,” Mikel said on The Obi One podcast.
“Alex Iwobi in this tournament has been absolutely fantastic. I have been waiting for this from Alex Iwobi for a long time. Finally we can see the Alex Iwobi that we all know, playing well, everything going through him, creating chances, those passes.
“Of course Ndidi, the captain as well, the mainstay of the team who keeps the balance. Everything is working perfectly for the team but we have to go on now and win the tournament.”
Also Read: AFCON 2025: Call Osimhen To Order –Ex-International Tells NFF
Ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final tie with Algeria, Mikel admitted it will be a difficult fixture for the Super Eagles.
“We have to win the next game, we have to make sure we approach the game the right way because it’s going to be a very difficult game against Algeria,” he said.
“I have watched them play a couple of times. They are a very good team, play as a team. They are very aggressive, they’ve got good and quality players, so we have to be on our A-game.
“There shouldn’t be any hindrance, distraction, or negativity. So we have to make sure we sort out any negativity that’s going to happen.
“Are the players being paid their bonuses? Whatever they have been promised needs to be sorted out before this game. I believe we can go all the way and win it.”
3 Comments
This werey mikel.. because he is closer to osimhen he couldn’t comment on his recent childish attitude on lookman….
For me going, if we are to go by the word “deserve”, the player that truely deserves to be the highest goal scorer and also the best player of the tournament is lookman… only adebaba has been directly involved in 7 of the team’s twelve goals at so fa….
3 goals, 4 assist in 4 matches na your mate?
He honestly deserve it and more individual accolades as an encouragement for all his individual brilliance so far … ..
What osimhen deserves right now is a fine from the nff….
I even wish akor adams can win the highest goal scorer ahead of osimhen…cos mehn that dude has changed the way we play..what we expected from boniface…
Mikel, this is the first time Nigeria have had 7 different scorers at an afcon.
Did you notice how mahrez was man marked against DRC and subsequently removed from the game?
Saying Osimhen needs to win highest goal scorer when the road to the trophy has become “tougher” with nations that concede fewer chances on the horizon will stifle super Eagles going forward if everyone wants to keep Osimhen “happy” and he is consequently marked by the opposition.
Honestly, the Osimhen distraction was needless oh. We are playing the Algerians who know how to “frustrate” opposition players with different tantrums.
Make them no go bait us with dark arts and tempers flare.
Winning the trophy is more important than Osimhen emerging as the highest goal scorer