Victor Osimhen happy to have gained experience at Egypt 2019

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Jul 29, 2019. 10:16

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen says he is happy to have gained some valuable senior tournament experience at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Sporting Charleroi forward featured in just 45 minutes – the second half of the third-place playoff against Tunisia – but insists that the AFCON was a major learning curve for him.

“Everyone is still in the process of learning,” said the 2015 U-17 World Cup Golden Boot winner.

“I’m grateful I was at the AFCON, we own this space and in the future we are going to dominate this place so the experiences I gathered are going to help me.

“For me, to play at the AFCON, the biggest stage in Africa is a massive achievement.

Most times, the pressure is high but the experienced players stay calm because they know the game and they’ve been in it for years.”

Osimhen is set to be a key man in the future for the Super Eagles, and is being touted as the likely long-term replacement for Odion Ighalo following the latter’s retirement from international football.

The 20-year-old Belgian-based forward will hope to be called for Nigeria’s opening 2021 AFCON qualifier against Benin in November.