Mikel banks on Eagles striker to win Afcon for Nigeria says he is the most decorated Nigerian footballer

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel reckons that the Super Eagles are one of the favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Mikel, who was a key member of the last Nigeria team to win the Africa Cup of Nations, has insisted that Jose Peseiro's side are title contenders because of the quality strikers in their ranks.

With the top scorer in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Victor Osimhen, currently injured, the Portuguese football tactician still has at his disposal adequate replacements for the Napoli striker.

Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest), Terem Moffi (OGC Nice), and Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad) have been named in the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Mikel believes Osimhen is the best center forward in the Super Eagles right now and good enough to carry the team to Africa Cup of Nations success.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel said: "We do have a chance. We are always favorites when it comes to this tournament. We might not play well during the qualifying series but once the tournament starts we are one of the favorites.

"We know how to win this tournament, we have won it three times and this is something that this young team should take with them going into the tournament.

"When you look at this team right now, we have the best strike force ever - Victor and Awoniyi.

"Awoniyi was fantastic against Aston Villa. One of them has to start, obviously, Victor starts and then Awoniyi comes in after that but I think Awoniyi has been absolutely brilliant."

Mikel also bragged that he is “still the most successful and decorated football player in Nigeria”.

He said despite all his achievements he was never ranked number 8 in the world by the Ballon d’Or like Nigerian youngster, Osimhen.

Speaking in the latest episode of his podcast, The Obi One, which had Osimhen as a guest, Mikel said the Napoli striker has raised the bar high for Nigerian footballers.

He said, “I am still the most successful and decorated football player in Nigeria. But he [Victor Osimhen] got an award that I never got. He was ranked number 8 in the world by Ballon d’Or. That’s absolutely amazing. I must say congratulations. The season you had, was fantastic and I never got to that stage. You’ve raised the bar so high.”

Responding, Osimhen reckoned that Mikel “is more than a legend” to many Nigerian footballers, adding that the former Super Eagles captain inspired him and others on and off the pitch.

On his Ballon d’Or success, the Napoli striker said “I just kept on doing my job, doing what I love so much and God just crowned my efforts.”