Nigeria shouldn’t be reliant on Victor Osimhen, says Eagles legend

Nigeria’s Super Eagles ex-midfielder Etim Esin has cautioned the over-reliance of the team on Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

Esin who has eight caps for the Super Eagles recalls his time at camp where multiple goal scorers came through for the side, unlike now where he believes the team struggles to score goals in the absence of their main striker Osimhen.

“Back then, we used to have multiple sources for our goals, but now it seems to come either through Osimhen or his work. That is not acceptable in this modern era of football,” Esin told Punch.

“So, if Osimhen doesn’t play, we can’t have goals? He should even be rested in some of these games, like against Benin, even if he was fit, he should have been rested. That is how football is played, good link-up plays and goals coming from all corners of the team.”

Esin’s comments are in light of the Eagles’ poor run of games in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In the absence of an injured Osimhen, Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, before suffering a 2-1 loss to the Benin Republic in Côte d’Ivoire.

This culmination of poor results sees the team languishing in the fifth position of the Africa qualifier Group C, having drawn their opening two matches.

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) silver winner also dropped eight places from 30th position to 38th position in the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday.