'We need all our supporters back' - Apologetic Osimhen begs 'angry' Super Eagles fans to return

Super Eagles star forward Victor Osimhen has called on all aggrieved supporters of the team to return as the team is on the path to greatness again.

Osimhen made this clarion call during an interesting session with Wazobia's Buchi Laba on his Footbarepublik talk show.

Nigeria's senior national football team, the Super Eagles broke the heart of Nigerians after they failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup slated for Qatar.

The Eagles failed to make it past rivals Ghana during the final round of the qualifiers earlier this year.

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After a dull goalless affair in Kumasi, Nigerians came out en masse to support the Super Eagles at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja for the second leg.

However, the fans were left shocked and distraught as Ghana picked the coveted ticket on the away goal rule following a 1-1 draw.

On the show, Osimhen, who finished top of PulseSPORTS30, started by thanking the fans for their overwhelming support in Abuja. He also said that missing out on the global showpiece remains a painful experience that will linger forever but adds that it's time for the fans, especially those who are still angry, to come back to support the Super Eagles as the team is on the path to greatness under the new manager, Jose Peseiro. 

"Firstly, I need to say a very big thank you to the fans, even when we were in Ghana, the way the fans turned up and everything," Osimhen said.

"Abuja was massive. The support was overwhelming - we could feel the adrenaline pop out. I need to say thank you again and again."

"Of course, it's not what we expected to happen, (but) with the turn-up and support we got, it was overwhelming. "

Apologetic Osimhen begs fans to come back as Super Eagles begin the right path to greatness

Speaking further on the failure to qualify, Osimhen apologised to supporters, adding that it's time to move forward as the Super Eagles are back on the right path under new boss Jose Peseiro.

"Sometimes in football, it's like this. First, as the Ghanaians had the ambition to go to the World Cup, we wanted to go there, too," he added.

"But it (not qualifying) has happened. We need to first say sorry to Nigerians. A lot of people still support us but what we need to do is to try to get all our supporters back 100%. We are on the right path, doing things well with the new coach (Peseiro) and technical staff."

"But everyone is sad, nobody is happy even now the pain lingers and forever it will. I would have advanced in age before the next World Cup but we have to move past it. We first need to look forward to what the future brings and with the quality we possess, from here, all I see (in the Super Eagles) is greatness."

Well, Osimhen and the Super Eagles have certainly moved on from that painful day in Abuja.

The 23-year-old netted four goals as Nigeria recorded a historic 10-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe to make it back-to-back wins in the AFCON2023Q. 

Osimhen also assisted two other goals and was also on target when the Super Eagles came from a goal down to see off Sierra Leone 2-1 in the opener at the famous Moshood Abiola National Stadium, which hosted that ill-fated match that cost them the World Cup ticket.