Emmanuel Amuneke, the former assistant coach of the Super Eagles, emphasized that there’s considerable pressure on the three-time African champions to secure victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
Amuneke cautioned against putting excessive pressure on Victor Osimhen, the esteemed CAF Player of The Year, to single-handedly propel the team to success.
Despite Osimhen’s impressive track record as the top scorer in the AFCON qualifying series with 10 goals, Amuneke stressed the importance of not solely relying on him to lead the star-studded attack in the tournament, where the three-time African champions aim for a fourth title in Ivory Coast.
Amuneke highlighted the collective significance of the Eagles squad, emphasizing that the team’s strength lies in unity rather than relying solely on any individual player.
“I don’t think we should put any pressure on anybody, including Victor, there are 23 players in the squad and there is pressure on all of them to win,” Amuneke, who won the AFCON in 1994, said.
“Victor won’t win the AFCON on his own for Nigeria, there are other players who are going to chip in and help the team win the tournament or go as far as they can.”
On the chances of the Eagles at the tournament, the 1994 AFCON winner warned Jose Peseiro side against complacency.
The Eagles, winners of the AFCON in 1980, 1994 and 2013, are drawn in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
“Ivory Coast and Nigeria are favourites to qualify from that group but they must prove their ability to qualify by winning. In football, you cannot predict what might happen against Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau,” Amuneke added.
“There has been a development from these two teams in recent years. They have players in European teams. Of course, the chances of Ivory Coast and Nigeria are stronger, but they must prove their ability to qualify by winning.”
