With Super Eagles highest goal scorer at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup qualifiers Victor Osimhen ruled out due to Covid-19, Paul Onuachu’s absence due to injury and Watford and Al Shabab’s refusal to release top-scorers Emmanuel Dennis and Odion Ighalo respectively for the AFCON tournament in Cameroon; the door has been opened for Taiwo Awoniyi to climb up the pecking order of Super Eagles center forwards and lead the frontline as the tournament kicks off this weekend.
Making his international bow for Nigeria in the Super Eagles 1-0 loss to the Central African Republic (CAR) at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos in October, this would be the former Mouscron of Belgium star’s first appearance in a tournament for the senior national team
The striker, who has scored 15 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for Union Berlin so far this season, assured Nigerian fans of his readiness to help the Super Eagles win the AFCON.
Speaking about how training has been going under interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, the former Liverpool youngster disclosed that preparations for the tournament are going on smoothly and the team is working hard towards achieving their goal, which is to return as African champions.
He said: “It has been a great session, two times a day since we resumed camp, different drills getting us to the rhythm and getting us ready for the games.
”For us it is to go there and do everything for the country. We just finished another training session, getting there step by step and when the time comes we will deliver for the country.
“Preparation is going well, the team is working hard in getting prepared and working towards our goal, which is to win the tournament.
“We are ready for AFCON and we will give our all to make the fans happy back home and abroad.”