‘We have the opportunity to win back our fans’ - Osimhen looking to mend relationship with fans after World Cup heartbreak

The Super Eagles enter the tournament in Morocco still reeling from a difficult year, having missed out on a World Cup spot, with their hopes ultimately dashed in a painful playoff defeat to DR Congo in November.

Now regrouped in Morocco for the AFCON tournament, Nigeria are set to kick off their campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday at the Fez Stadium. 

They have been drawn in Group C, which also includes Tunisia and Uganda and Nigerians will be hoping they can make it to the next round.

Speaking after a training session in Fez on Sunday, the star striker acknowledged the supporters' pain and stressed the team's commitment to making amends.

"We really understand their frustration," Osimhen told CaliSports. "We gave everything to qualify for the World Cup, but penalties are sometimes about luck—sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t."

"Now we have the opportunity to win back the hearts of our fans. I want to say a big thank you to the Super Eagles supporters who never gave up on us and stood by us through the good and the bad. This AFCON is a chance to rewrite our wrongs, and we are ready to give our all."

Despite being one of the most prolific forwards in the team's history with 31 goals in 46 appearances, Osimhen has struggled to find the net in previous AFCON tournaments, scoring only once in eight matches across the 2019 and 2024 editions.