The African football governing body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has described 25-year-old Victor Osimhen as the Lion of Africa.
The Soccer body also used the popular ‘no gree for anybody’ slogan to describe how the Napoli forward made possible Nigeria’s first goal in their 2-0 impressive victory over Cameroon on Saturday night.
Posting a video of the Napoli star’s celebration after Nigeria’s first goal, CAF wrote on its official X handle, “Lion of Africa no gree for anybody! Ginger o porrr! No retreat, no surrender.”
On his part, former Nigeria head coach, Sunday Oliseh hailed Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen after his impressive display in Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, Round of 16 win over Cameroon on Saturday.
Oliseh said he was extremely impressed with the Napoli star for his offensive runs and defensive work against Cameroon during the encounter.
Osimhen gave an assist during the clash against Cameroon as two goals from Ademola Lookman ensured Jose Peseiro’s side defeated the Indomitable Lions.
In a post via his X account, Oliseh said, “Victor Osimhen! Victor Osimhen!! Extremely impressed not only by his offensive runs, and defensive work but even on corner kicks, and tormenting of the Cameroonian defence, but mostly by his leadership and hunger to win! Bravo to our African Ballon D’or.”
The Nigerian Observer reported that Nigeria’s Super Eagles have eliminated Indomitable Lions of Cameroon with a 2-0 victory, advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday night in Abidjan
Former England Under-21 international Ademola Lookman scored twice to beat a disappointing Cameroon in the round of 16.
The Atalanta forward opened the scoring nine minutes before the break after Victor Osimhen forced Oumar Gonzalez into a mistake and assisted Lookman to fire past goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa, who was preferred against Andre Onana.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Nwabali was rattled a few times in the second half and the last collision with N’Koudou sent him out of the pitch on a stretcher and Uzoho replaced him.
Nigeria also made a like-for-like change in defence, bringing on Omeruo for Zaidu.
Lookman sealed the win in the 90th minute after one of the game’s best moves, volleying home Calvin Bassey’s cut-back to spark huge celebrations among the three-time champions.
Nigeria made a late double change, bringing off Osimhen who set up their first goal and was generally brilliant in the toe to toe breathtaking energetic game.
Despite introducing Vincent Aboubakar, the top scorer at the 2021 edition, late for his first appearance after a muscle injury sustained on the eve of the finals, Cameroon failed to register a single shot on target.
Notably, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has thrown his support behind Victor Osimhen even as the Napoli striker failed to score against Cameroon on Saturday.
Osimhen, though, remains with one AFCON goal to his name, and the reigning African Footballer of the Year has not found the net since his header against Equatorial Guinea on matchday one.
The situation, however, does not worry Peseiro, who has watched Osimhen cause more damage that led to other Super Eagles goals.
While there is pressure on the Portuguese tactician to bench Osimhen and play other strikers like Paul Onuachu and Terem Moffi, who can get the goals, Peseiro is sticking with the Napoli striker.
During the post-match press conference monitored by Soccernet.ng, Peseiro said:
“Osimhen did not score, but his effort in the game… It’s not easy to stop that guy. I think one lady asked me yesterday, ‘You need to score. Why don’t you put Osimhen on the bench?’
“(chuckles) Ask them, Nigeria’s opponents, ask them what they suffer. They suffer. He pressures, he wins the ball. The first ball, he created the goal. The opponent has the ball and then the pressure. He takes the ball and assists.
“He is fantastic for our team with very good players. He wins the ball against two or three (defenders) and waits for our team to arrive.
“Okay, no one can win a match alone. Everybody must play, but he’s a good example. Not only him, of course, my team did a fantastic job, even the guys who did not play.”
