{"id":879879,"date":"2025-12-23T00:16:53","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T06:16:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/23\/we-are-going-for-war-victor-osimhen-makes-statement-of-intent-ahead-of-super-eagles-afcon-2025-opener\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T00:16:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T06:16:53","slug":"we-are-going-for-war-victor-osimhen-makes-statement-of-intent-ahead-of-super-eagles-afcon-2025-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/23\/we-are-going-for-war-victor-osimhen-makes-statement-of-intent-ahead-of-super-eagles-afcon-2025-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe are going for war\u201d \u2013 Victor Osimhen makes statement of intent ahead of Super Eagles\u2019 AFCON 2025 opener"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img width=\"750\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Soccer \u201cWe are going for war\u201d \u2013 Victor Osimhen makes statement of intent ahead of Super Eagles\u2019 AFCON 2025 opener\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"  src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-750x500.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/03\/imago1060190759-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-expand=\"700\" ><\/p>\n<p>Victor Osimhen for Nigeria (Photo credit: Imago)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Nigeria striker <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/tag\/Victor-osimhen\">Victor Osimhen<\/a> has declared that the <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/tag\/super-eagles\">Super Eagles<\/a> will give everything to clinch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u200bThe Super Eagles finished as runners-up in the last edition of the tournament. However, since that silver-medal finish, the team\u2019s performances and results have struggled to inspire confidence among fans.<\/p>\n<p>\u200bJust last month in Morocco, <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/11\/nigeria-dr-congo-super-eagles-world-cup-2.html\">Nigeria suffered a disappointing defeat to DR Congo<\/a> in the final of the 2026 CAF World Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_186334\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-186334\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/fecofadrc_82043975.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer DR Congo vs Nigeria Super Eagles\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-186334\">DR Congo vs Nigeria Super Eagles. (Photo credit: FECOFADRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This setback was particularly painful as the team had even been handed the playoffs lifeline after finishing second behind South Africa in their qualifying group.<\/p>\n<p>\u200bAs a result, expectations heading into AFCON 2025 remain average. <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/12\/power-rankings-afcon-2025-team.html\">According to Soccernet.ng\u2019s latest power rankings<\/a>, the Super Eagles are currently listed as fifth favorites to claim the continental crown.<\/p>\n<p>\u200bDespite the skepticism, talismanic forward Victor Osimhen remains optimistic. Speaking ahead of Nigeria\u2019s opening fixture, he emphasized a renewed sense of belief and hunger within the squad, and expressed their determination to go all the way and lift the trophy on Moroccan soil.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_177639\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-177639\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/09\/imago1066137149-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Victor Osimhen of Nigeria during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Amavubi of Rwanda\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1709\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-177639\">Victor Osimhen of Nigeria during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Amavubi of Rwanda. Photo by Akpan Nsidibe Copyright: imago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cFor us, last month (the loss to DR Congo) was really disappointing. It wasn&#8217;t how we thought it would be, but life has happened, and we&#8217;ve moved on. But the memory still lingers,\u201d Osimhen told <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/status\/2002816166188978613\" target=\"_blank\">Kelechi Anyikude<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to use this opportunity to send a clear message out there that we still have it in us. I believe so much in this squad. I believe so much in the coach, in the coaching staff and everyone that is associated with this team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s all about going to war. Tuesday is the first one, and we will give everything. We are not underrating anyone in our group, but I think we&#8217;re up there with so many favourites in this tournament.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo we&#8217;re going to give our all to make sure that we actualise the dream of trying to win the AFCON.\u00a0It&#8217;s not gonna be easy, we still got a long way to go so I am positive about this squad.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Soccer When is The Super Eagles&#8217; First Match of AFCON 2025?<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_185848\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-185848\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/11\/imago1067787195-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Victor Osimhen celebrate with team mates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Benin Republic\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-185848\">Victor Osimhen celebrate with team mates during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Super Eagles of Nigeria and Benin Republic at Godwill Akpabio Stadium (Photo by Nsidibe AkpanxImago)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Nigeria will play ther first game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, December 22. They will lock horns with the Taifa Stars of Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif De Fes.<\/p>\n<p>Three-time African champions, Nigeria are the favourites to win the fixture. But they tend to struggle, even against teams that they are head and shoulder above on paper.<\/p>\n<p>Osimhen will be the one to lead the line for the Super Eagles, and he will be looking to wreak havoc.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img alt=\"<!-- Author Start -->Kelvin Omachonu<!-- Author End -->&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG-20240522-WA0001-150&#215;150.jpg&#8221;  height=&#8221;80&#8243; width=&#8221;80&#8243;>\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/author\/kelvin\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tKelvin Omachonu\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tKelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.<br \/>\nA graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, and Sportspremi.<br \/>\nAway from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/12\/victor-osimhen-super-eagles-afcon-2025-3.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Kelvin Omachonu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Victor Osimhen for Nigeria (Photo credit: Imago) Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has declared that the Super Eagles will give everything to clinch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports. \u200bThe Super Eagles finished as runners-up in the last edition of the tournament. However, since that silver-medal finish, the team\u2019s performances [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":879880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[903,39587,2005],"tags":[43884,6972],"class_list":{"0":"post-879879","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-going","8":"category-we","9":"category-soccer","10":"tag-we","11":"tag-going"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=879879"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879879\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/879880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=879879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=879879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=879879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}