NFF president, Amaju Pinnick has revealed that Napoli striker, Osimhen withdrew from AFCON to give other fully fit players an opportunity
By Kehinde Okeowo
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has disclosed that Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, opted out of AFCON because he was not fully fit and wanted the best for the country.
He made the revelation while speaking on Arise Television recently, saying the 23-year-old striker confided in him that he would not be able to give his best for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
Osimhen and three other players were dropped from the Super Eagles’ squad and replaced, having been announced by NFF in the 28 man list released in December 2021.
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The goal poacher was initially ruled out, after sustaining a nasty facial injury last November, in his club’s 3-2 defeat to Inter Milan, only to make the final list before he was subsequently dropped after he tested positive to Covid-19.
According to Pinnick, he had a lengthy conversation with the striker, who displayed a lot of patriotism by opting out and suggesting that a fitter player should take his place.
He said, “Osimhen’s case, you know I had a one-hour conversation with him.
“The day he was going to do his scan, the second scan that would make him take off the faceguard, that was the day he caught COVID, so there was no way he could do that and that was the deadline.
“So he called me and said, ‘President, listen even if I try, even if I go to my [club] president’. I also told him I also wanted to come and see his president and he said, ‘president listen I would not be able to give my best, let other players also showcase their talents. In the World Cup qualifiers, let me prepare myself.’
“He appealed and I saw he called me, the coach, the team’s secretary, and also the general secretary. I know Osimhen loves this country, you all know that.
“He wants to give his best, but he believes right now there are some players that would do better than him, so let him take a back seat and allow them go. It was a tough call.”
Meanwhile, Super Eagles interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, while speaking to Allnigeriasoccer, admitted he would miss the services of Victor Osimhen and Emmanuel Dennis.
“The only thing is to change the style of play because the personnel is not there as we expected. Definitely, Victor Osimhen is a big miss, Emmanuel Dennis is in form, also a big miss,” he said.