The 26-year-old striker, who plays his club football for Galatasaray, was a key figure in the Super Eagles side that reached the AFCON final in 2023, only to be beaten by hosts Ivory Coast.
Osimhen believes that experience, while painful, can serve as motivation as Nigeria target a return to the final when the tournament is staged in Morocco next year.
Nigeria's focus on AFCON has sharpened following another setback on the global stage. The West African nation recently lost to DR Congo on penalties in the final of Africa's play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming a second consecutive absence from the tournament.
Osimhen has urged the squad to move on quickly and channel their energy into continental success.
"I want to say thank you to the Super Eagles fans all over the world that have stuck with us through the good times and the bad times," he said.
"The AFCON is an opportunity for us to win our fans over [and] make sure we actualise our dreams of winning [the tournament]."
Nigeria are aiming to win a fourth AFCON title, and Osimhen's importance to those ambitions is clear. The Super Eagles have often struggled for goals and consistency when he is unavailable, underlining his influence in recent years.
Tunisia began their AFCON campaign in emphatic fashion with a 3-1 victory over Uganda in a Group C encounter played in Rabat, a result that ended a 12-year wait for an opening-match win at the finals.
Senegal began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in convincing fashion with a dominant 3-0 win over Botswana in Group D in Tangier, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice to underline the defending champions' authority.
DR Congo made a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Tuesday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Benin in Rabat, a result that lifted them to the top of Group D.
Egypt opened their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a dramatic 2-1 win over Zimbabwe in Group B on Monday night in Agadir.
