AFCON 2023: ‘There are no underdogs’ – Victor Osimhen ahead of Cameroon clash

The 34th edition has been full of surprises with some of the former champions and powerhouses like Ghana, Algeria, and Tunisia, eliminated in the group stages. In contrast, teams like Mauritania, Namibia, Cape Verde, and Equatorial Guinea have stepped up, challenging the status quo and showcasing their skills on a grand stage.

However, the Super Eagles finished second with seven points behind Equatorial Guinea in Group A, and Cameroon managing a slim second-place finish with four points behind Senegal, both teams battle for a place in the next round.

And reigning CAF Player of the Year holder believes there are no pushovers when it comes to African football as he emphasizes the heightened competition in this year’s tournament.

“I think the pressure is high, Nigeria is a big footballing country, and the fans want us to go out there and play good and win convincingly,” the Napoli star told Soccernet.

“But in the AFCON, there is no underdog, and if you have to win, you have to be on top of your game. You have to be focused from the blast of the whistle to the very end.

“The most important thing for us is we’ve gotten to the knockout stage. Then, we still have a lot of work to do. We are still a work in progress, but I think we are on the right track, and we have the right coach.”