Victor Osimhen Talks AFCON Draw and Shares Confidence in New Coach Eric Chelle
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has weighed in on Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage draw, expressing both awareness of the challenges ahead and confidence in the team’s abilities.
Placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, the three-time African champions face a competitive path as they target success in Morocco. Speaking to BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, Osimhen acknowledged the difficulty of the draw but remained optimistic about Nigeria’s chances under newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle.
“It’s not gonna be easy. Just like we all know, this is African football, this is AFCON. You can get a lot of surprises. But we are going to take each game as it comes,” Osimhen said, reflecting the unpredictable nature of African football.
Osimhen, who plays for Napoli but is currently plying his trade in Turkey, also revealed that he’s been in contact with Chelle, the Malian tactician who will lead Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers in March before guiding the team to AFCON.
“We have a new coach [Eric Chelle]. I spoke with him a couple of times, and I know the kind of objectives he has set for the players. I am looking forward to the first training of the game [against Rwanda] so we can also feel his presence,” Osimhen explained.
Nigeria’s first competitive test under Chelle comes in March during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where they will face Rwanda and Zimbabwe. These matches will offer Chelle a chance to assess his squad before the upcoming AFCON.
With Osimhen potentially leading the line, Nigeria will be eager to make a strong statement in Morocco as they aim for their fourth AFCON title.
