Nigeria star Victor Osimhen on Friday said that he does not care about his lack of goals at the Africa Cup of Nations after the Super Eagles beat Angola 1-0 to progress to the semi-finals.
They came out on top in the last-eight tie at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan thanks to a solitary Ademola Lookman goal late in the first half.
Osimhen found the net near the end when he headed in a Lookman free-kick, but that effort was disallowed for offside.
Photo: AFP
“Those who know me, they know I don’t put myself before the team. If my goal comes, they come,” the SSC Napoli striker told broadcaster Canal Plus Afrique. “I want to help the team with goals of course, but if I am not scoring I am defending. If I am not defending I am fighting for them. I just want my team to be in the right mentality to win this tournament.”
“It is a big prize for us, as an individual and also as a country,” he said. “So I think we have the right mentality to make sure we bring the trophy home.”
Nigeria face a semi-final against either Cape Verde or South Africa on Wednesday in Bouake as they remain on track to claim a fourth continental title and first since 2013.
Photo: Reuters
Cape Verde and South Africa were to play after press time last night, after the Mali-Ivory Coast game, with the winner to face the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) following their 3-1 defeat of Guinea.
Former West Ham United defender Arthur Masuaku scored the vital goal, netting direct from a free-kick after 82 minutes to give his country a two-goal advantage in their quarter-final.
Mohamed Bayo gave Guinea a 20th-minute lead from a penalty, which was canceled by DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba.
Brentford forward Yoane Wissa put DR Congo ahead on 65 minutes from the second penalty of the match, then Masuaku effectively decided the outcome.
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