FIFA U 17 World Cup winner Christian Ebere Osinachi has backed the Super Eagles to win their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title at AFCON 2025 in Morocco. The 27 year old forward recently became a hero for Uruguay’s Club Nacional after scoring a 114th minute winner to secure the club’s 50th league title against rivals Atlético Peñarol.
Nigeria have won AFCON three times in 1980, 1994 and 2013 and are chasing a first continental title in 12 years after finishing as runners up at the last edition in Cote d’Ivoire. Osinachi believes the team can respond to the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup inter continental play off ticket, which they lost to DR Congo in November.
He admitted that the World Cup play off defeat was painful but insisted the Super Eagles have another chance to make Nigerians proud by lifting the AFCON trophy. According to him, the squad has enough quality to reach the final again and this time go all the way to win it.
Osinachi, who starred for Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets at the 2015 U 17 World Cup, said he is excited to see some of his former youth teammates, including Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze, leading the charge in Morocco. He added that although he has not yet been invited to the senior national team, he remains hungry to play for the Super Eagles.
The Nacional forward revealed that his club teammates often ask why he has not been called up, as they rate his ability highly from watching Nigeria’s recent games, including the loss to DR Congo. He said he is simply waiting for his chance and is ready to give his best if handed an opportunity.
Osinachi also spoke about his journey across South American football, where he has played for clubs in Argentina, Brazil and now Uruguay. He described the leagues in the region as intense and physically demanding, with little room for unnecessary dribbling and a strong emphasis on quick thinking on the ball.
He urged Nigeria’s coaches to pay more attention to players plying their trade in South America. In his view, many of them are as good as, or even better than, some of their counterparts in Europe because of the high intensity and toughness of football in the region.
The forward argued that the Super Eagles’ technical crew do not watch enough South American leagues or competitions like the Copa Libertadores. He believes this has made it easy to overlook talents who could add strength and fighting spirit to the national team.
Reflecting on his title winning goal for Nacional, Osinachi said the strike meant a lot to him and his teammates. He explained that the league trophy was dedicated to a former player who died while playing for the club and had also featured for Peñarol, making the victory even more emotional.
Osinachi spoke warmly about his bond with Nacional fans, who have embraced him for his work rate, strength and speed. He described the club as one of South America’s giants and said scoring the decisive goal in such an important match is a memory he and the club will never forget.
He also shared how close he is to his mother, who initially resisted his football dream because his father never made it professionally. Over time, she became his strongest supporter, helping with boots and travel and praying for his success as he chased a career abroad.
On his personal life, Osinachi revealed that he plans to get married in the future but has not yet found the right partner. For now, his focus remains on his football career and hopefully earning a place in the Super Eagles while helping Nigeria chase glory at AFCON 2025.
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