AFCON 2023 Final: Arsenal legend Eboue warns Cote d’Ivoire to be wary of Victor Osimhen 

By Wale Mustapha

Retired Arsenal and Ivory Coast defender, Emmanuel Eboue has advised the players of his country they need to be at their best to stop Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Osimhen in the final of African Cup of Nations, AFCON on Sunday.

The two teams will be meeting for the second time in the tournament, having met earlier in the group stage where Nigeria won by 1-0.  One player who has been tipped for make a significant impact in the final is Napoli striker who is expected to lead the line for Jose Peseiro’s side.

Eboue who has featured in five AFCON tournaments with the Elephants said the 25 year old Osimhen has same striker’s attributes with Ivory Coast legend, Didier Drogba who will desperate to give him for his country.

“He reminds me of Drogba, he has a bit of the same style. Drogba gave his all, weighed a lot on the defense, and Osimhen did the same,” the former Arsenal legend told BBC Sports.

“For a defender, playing against this kind of attacker is difficult: you don’t know what he’s going to do. When a defender has the ball, he presses it at every moment.”

Osimhen has only one goal to his name but has registered 24 shots, more than any other player at the 2023 Afcon, and nine more than Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Mohamed Fofana who has a team-high figure of fifteen.

The final is billed for Alhassan Outarra Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan by 9pm Nigerian time.