Ex-South Africa Captain tips Osimhen to be star of AFCON 2023 final

Dean Furman, former South Africa captain, has predicted Victor Osimhen to shine in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire on Sunday.

Osimhen was pivotal for Nigeria in Wednesday’s semi-final victory against South Africa, particularly in the second half where he won a penalty, and as usual, in a great shift, although he couldn’t get his name on the scorer-sheet for the fifth consecutive match at the ongoing 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

Come Sunday, the Napoli forward is expected to lead Nigeria’s line when they face hosts Côte d’Ivoire and has been backed by Furman to outstrip his previous performances.

“First half, he was quiet, second half he came alive, did fantastically to win that penalty, and going into this final, they would need him to be on his A-game,” Furman said via BBC World Service.

“I think you have got to start those chances that are coming his way. He keeps putting himself in those positions, so surprising because they keep planting it on his head and he gets up so well, you expect it to be in the back of the net and he has blazed quite a few headers in this tournament over the bar.

“Technically, he is just getting under the ball, for a player of his quality, you expect him to be on 5, 6, or 7 goals already by this stage of the tournament and I wouldn’t write him off of being the star man of the final,” the 36-year-old said.

Data from Sofascore reveals that after six matches at the AFCON 2023, Nigeria has created the most big chances (21) and has missed the most (15), of which Osimhen has missed five.