Osimhen boost for Nigeria’s AFCON semi-final
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been passed fit to play in his side’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against South Africa.
Osimhen was carried off on a stretcher during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Angola with abdominal pain and was a doubt for Wednesday’s last-four clash.
But having not travelled to Bouake on Monday, the Napoli forward arrived a day later and managed to train.
A tweet from the Super Eagles’ X account read: “Victor Osimhen has been declared fit and available for selection in the semi-final clash against South Africa on Wednesday. He has joined the team in Bouake and has trained with the squad today.”
South Africa come into the match after last week’s penalty shoot-out victory over Cape Verde.
Nigeria boss Jose Peseiro offered a reminder that his team need to play at a high level if they are to book their place in Sunday’s final against either DR Congo or hosts Ivory Coast.
He told a press conference: “We’ve done a good job now getting to the semi-finals. We’ve showed good spirit and organisation.
“We play like a team together. We must play a high level match, we know the capacity of our opponent. We must play at 100 per cent or more to beat a very good team.”
Nigeria have not lifted the trophy since 2013 but Peseiro remained hopeful his side can triumph.
The Portuguese said: “My belief is that we can win this competition. But they (South Africa) also want to win AFCON, just like us.”
