AFCON 2023: Bright Osayi-Samuel eyes starting place in ‘game of revenge’ against Guinea-Bissau

The match, a critical encounter in the prestigious tournament, is set to take place at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan. 

Despite his impactful performances from the bench, Osayi-Samuel's starting role remains a subject of speculation as Nigeria prepares for a vital group stage showdown.

Nigeria's Super Eagles, buoyed by their recent success, are eyeing the top spot in Group A. The equation is simple yet challenging: a victory against Guinea Bissau and a slip-up from Equatorial Guinea would propel them to the group's summit. 

Osayi-Samuel, who made his competition debut in a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea and played a pivotal role in the triumph over Ivory Coast, could be a key figure in this crucial encounter.

Guinea-Bissau, already out of the competition following consecutive defeats, are playing for pride, while Nigeria, steered by the ambition and skill of players like Osayi-Samuel, is targeting nothing less than a comprehensive victory.

The match against Guinea-Bissau carries added emotional weight for the Super Eagles, especially for Osayi-Samuel. 

The Blackpool academy graduate, now firmly tied to the Nigerian squad, vividly remembers the sting of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Guinea-Bissau in a previous AFCON qualifier. It's a loss that hasn't been forgotten, and now, the stage is set for a compelling rematch.

In his remarks to the press as reported by Allnigeriasoccer, following the win against Ivory Coast, Osayi-Samuel openly expressed the team's mindset: "It's a very good win especially when a lot of people didn't believe that we can win. 

"It's very important because it puts us in a good position in the group and for us to look forward to the last game and we'll win that too. 

"With this win now you can see the confidence in the group, even before the game everyone was relaxed. Everyone knew our jobs, what we needed to do. 

"Now that we are playing Guinea-Bissau, it's a team that beat us so of course we all want revenge. We know that they are not an easy team."

With eleven caps for Nigeria, including seven starts, Osayi-Samuel's growing influence in the national team is unmistakable.