'We have the best strike force ever' - Mikel says Super Eagles are one of the favourites to win 2023 AFCON

Chelsea and Nigeria legend John Obi Mikel reckons that the Super Eagles are one of the favourites to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

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."

Nigeria have been drawn with hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the 2023  Africa Cup of Nations.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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