Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi insists he feels no pressure to outshine Victor Osimhen or Victor Boniface as Nigeria prepares for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Nottingham Forest forward, absent from the national team setup this year, last featured in the 1-0 win over Libya in Uyo.
With competition fierce among Nigeria’s attacking options, Awoniyi says his focus is on self-improvement, not beating teammates to a shirt.
“I’ve never thought that I want to be better than this, I want to be better than that,” the 27-year-old said on Humble Boots.
“I believe everyone’s destiny is different. I’ve never chased the goal of being better than someone else, I just want to be the best version of myself this year.”
Taiwo Awoniyi eyeing place in Super Eagles' AFCON squad
Nigeria, who qualified for the 2025 AFCON by topping Group D, boast one of Africa’s most talented forward lines.
The spotlight remains on Osimhen and Boniface but Awoniyi, who has scored twice in 10 caps, maintains he won’t be drawn into a battle for supremacy.
“I don’t believe I need to be better than this person to make it to the AFCON,” he said. “I want to be better at what I am doing for myself.
“If it’s getting more minutes, if it’s scoring goals, then I will get to the AFCON. So I don’t need to push to be better than Osimhen or Boniface to get to the AFCON.”
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago in a four-nation tournament in London this month. For Awoniyi, the mission is simple; improve quietly, and be ready to get called up.
