Victor Osimhen dismisses Morocco home crowd advantage ahead of AFCON semi-final
Nigeria’s Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has dismissed talk of Morocco’s home-crowd advantage ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash in Rabat, saying that playing in front of large, partisan crowds does not intimidate him or his teammates. Osimhen spoke confidently about the challenge posed by the host nation’s supporters, acknowledging that Morocco will benefit from a strong home backing but insisting that the Super Eagles are ready for the occasion and unfazed by atmospheric pressure.
Osimhen pointed out that many players in the Nigerian squad have experience playing in stadiums with capacities of 80,000 to 90,000 fans and beyond, suggesting that the expected presence of tens of thousands of Moroccan supporters will not unsettle them. He said that Nigeria’s focus remains on the task at hand and not on the crowd, emphasising that there is “no pressure” within the camp and that the team takes matches one at a time.
The Super Eagles’ semi-final against Morocco is scheduled to take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where home fans are expected to dominate the stands. Despite this, Osimhen stressed that the team’s confidence and recent performances, including their quarter-final win over Algeria, show they are serious contenders for the AFCON title and prepared to handle the environment. He personally said that he remains focused on performing for his team and believes Nigeria has a genuine chance of progressing to the final.
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