Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast star Salomon Kalou has issued a strong vote of confidence in Nigeria's Victor Osimhen, predicting the striker will be the standout performer at the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kalou's Bold Prediction for Osimhen's AFCON Campaign
The 2015 AFCON winner with Ivory Coast has singled out the Galatasaray forward as the player to watch in Morocco. According to Kalou, Osimhen possesses the perfect blend of talent and mentality to dominate the tournament.
"Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is the headline act of the AFCON," Kalou stated. "His goal-scoring abilities speak for itself and he has the mentality of carrying Nigeria into the next stages of the tournament."
Kalou went further, naming Osimhen as his clear favourite for the tournament's Golden Boot award. He highlighted the favourable group stage draw as a key factor that could see the Nigerian hit the ground running.
"If I am to pick one name for the highest goalscorer for the AFCON, it’s definitely going to be Osimhen," the former Hertha BSC attacker declared. "The Galatasaray forward is in incredible form, and the Super Eagles group gives him the chance to start fast."
Super Eagles Tipped for Continental Glory
Beyond individual accolades for Osimhen, Salomon Kalou has backed the entire Nigerian squad to go all the way and win their fourth continental title. He pointed to the team's improved strength and balance as decisive factors.
The Elephants of Ivory Coast had denied Nigeria a fourth title with a 2-1 victory in the 2023 final. However, Kalou believes the Super Eagles are looking stronger this year and have the tools to triumph in the 35th edition of the tournament.
Kalou praised the attacking trident of Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze, suggesting their combination would trouble any defence. He also noted the stability provided by Wilfred Ndidi in midfield as a crucial component for success.
The tournament is scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. Nigeria finds itself in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Their opening match is set for December 23 against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, a fixture Kalou believes Osimhen can exploit early.
Context and Expectations for Nigeria
This vote of confidence comes at a time when the Nigerian Football Federation has set a clear target for head coach Eric Chelle. NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has mandated that the team must at least reach the final, matching their performance from the 2023 edition.
The Super Eagles recently played an international friendly without Osimhen, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday, December 16. The team was also missing winger Moses Simon for that encounter.
According to reports, the Nigerian squad was expected to depart Egypt for Morocco on Thursday, December 18, to begin their final preparations for the tournament proper.
With a legend like Salomon Kalou, who knows what it takes to win the AFCON, publicly backing their main man and the team, expectations are now sky-high for Victor Osimhen and the Super Eagles as they chase history in Morocco.
