AFCON 2023: “I will do my best to stop Osimhen” – Equatorial Guinea’s Jesús Owono relishes battle with Super Eagles talisman

Victor Osimhen was the highest goal-scorer during the AFCON qualifying rounds, scoring ten goals as he helped the Super Eagles seal their spot in Ivory Coast.

Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper, Jesús Owono, is relishing his battle with Victor Osimhen as the Super Eagles are set to lock horns with the National Thunder tomorrow, Soccernet.ng reports.

Nigeria were drawn in Group A alongside Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and the hosts, Ivory Coast, with the Super Eagles’ first game coming against Equatorial Guinea.

Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen scored ten goals in the qualifying rounds for the AFCON tournament and is a perceived threat for the Equatoguinean goalkeeper, Jesús Owono.

The 25-year-old scored twenty-six league goals as Napoli lifted the Scudetto, and the striker earned himself personal accolades, including a top-ten finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

Speaking in the pre-match conference ahead of Nigeria’s clash against Equatorial Guinea, Jesús Owono highlighted Osimhen as the danger man for the Super Eagles and mentioned he’ll do his best to keep the 1.85m tall striker quiet.

“I will do my best to stop Victor Osimhen and the other Super Eagles players in order to get a positive result in the first match. We were unknown in the last AFCON, and we did a great job. For this AFCON, the teams have more information about us. We train a lot, and we have prepared for the ramble,” the 22-year-old goalkeeper said.

The game will be played tomorrow by 2 pm at the Stade Olympique Allassane Ouattara in Ivory Coast, as Jose Peseiro’s men look to hunt for their fourth AFCON title.