AFCON 2025
Former international striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has asserted that the Super Eagles’ heavy reliance on Victor Osimhen ultimately cost the team a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The importance of the Galatasaray striker was starkly highlighted during Nigeria’s dramatic defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African playoff final.
Osimhen, who had previously netted a hat-trick against Gabon to help secure the team’s spot in the final, was substituted at half-time.
His exit critically affected the team’s performance, leading to a loss that ended Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
Notably, the Super Eagles have never lost a match when Osimhen has scored or provided an assist.
Aiyegbeni did not spare the other forwards, blasting them for failing to live up to expectations. Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Aiyegbeni said:
“We have like four other strikers, but only one delivers. Only one plays like a madman on the pitch. He’s aggressive and livid when things go wrong. We only have Osimhen. I think the rest are just happy to be in the national team.”
