Former Nigeria national team coach, Samson Siasia, has come to the defense of Victor Osimhen, the reigning CAF Player of the Year, over his performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), MySportDab reports.
Despite scoring only once, Nigeria finished as silver-medalists in the tournament, with Osimhen playing a crucial role in the team’s journey to the final.
In an interview with BRILA, Siasia, a 1994 AFCON winner with the Super Eagles, stated, “It would be very wrong for people to condemn him (Osimhen) that he didn’t do well at the AFCON. The role he played was very tough and technical one but no one to feed him with the kind of passes he needed as a striker.”
Siasia praised Osimhen’s efforts throughout the tournament, emphasizing that his contribution went beyond scoring goals. He noted, “The guy was actually everywhere on the pitch, going up and down, and his presence alone created a lot of turbulence for our opponents throughout the tournament.”
Addressing criticisms about Osimhen’s potential move to the Premiership due to his single goal at the Nations Cup, Siasia argued that football is more about the team’s success than an individual’s performance. He said, “Of course, sometimes things like that happen in football but the most important thing is the team’s success and not an individual.”
Siasia concluded by commending Osimhen’s hard work and dedication to ensuring the team’s success. He said, “If he did not score, he was working hard too to make sure the team succeeded. It’s a collective job, and I think the boy has done his best. It may not be good for now, but it was good enough for every one of us in Nigeria.”
This statement underscores the importance of recognizing a player’s overall contribution to the team, beyond just scoring goals.
