'We have the best striker in the world' - Simon urges Super Eagles fans not to put pressure on Osimhen 

Moses Simon was the player selected to accompany Jose Peseiro to the pre-match press conference on Friday, an indication that he will be involved in some capacity in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash against the Indomitable Lions. 

Victor Osimhen's form at the ongoing tournament was one of the topics Simon addressed during the press briefing. 

The reigning African Footballer of the Year stole the limelight in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, scoring ten goals to finish as the top scorer, but has struggled to deliver the goods so far in Ivory Coast, so mush so that some pundits are beginning to question his automatic inclusion in the starting lineup. 

Alongside Kelechi Iheanacho, the likes of Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi and Ahmed Musa have been relegated to the background due to manager Jose Peseiro's tactical decision to stick with Osimhen as his key striker. 

Simon has leapt to the defence of Osimhen after his unconvincing performances at the AFCON and has urged fans not to put the Super Eagles number 9 under pressure. 

Of the three goals scored by the Super Eagles in the group stage of the 2023 AFCON, only one came from open play and it's not that they have not been presented with clear-cut chances. 

"We played very well in the first game, just that we didn't score goals. As we saw that we missed a lot of chances in the opener, we decided to score at least one goal in the second game," Simon told reporters. 

"In the third game we missed chances even me speaking and I don't want anyone pointing fingers to any player because we have the best striker in the world which is Victor Osimhen.

"A lot of people are putting pressure on him, he's not the only one playing, it's the whole team. If we win or lose, it's the team. If he misses chances, it's the team.

"We are focused to win against Cameroon, even if it's by half a goal. We are not after scoring seven or ten goals. We just want to win and by God's grace we'll score."

Osimhen has registered thirteen shots at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, more than any other player, and six more than leading scorer, Equatorial Guinea's Emilio Nsue who has five goals to his name.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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