Eagles under pressure to win AFCON – Amuneke
Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, says the three-time African champions are under pressure to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The gaffer said Victor Osimhen, the CAF Player of The Year, should not be placed under undue pressure to fire the squad to glory.
Osimhen, who finished as the top scorer during the AFCON qualifying series with 10 goals, is poised to lead the Eagles star-studded attack at the tournament as the three-time African champions begin their quest for a fourth title in Ivory Coast.
According to Amuneke, the Eagles squad is more important than any individual.
“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.”
