Former Nigeria international Yakubu Aiyegbeni has expressed concerns that the Super Eagles’ dependence on Victor Osimhen played a major role in their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Osimhen, who scored a hat-trick against Gabon to secure Nigeria’s place in the African playoff final, was substituted at halftime during the decisive clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo, a move that Aiyegbeni believes disrupted the team’s rhythm and performance. Notably, the Super Eagles have historically remained unbeaten whenever Osimhen scores or provides an assist.
Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, the ex-striker did not mince words about his compatriots. “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,” Aiyegbeni said. “We only have Osimhen. I think the rest are just happy to be in the national team.”
The comments highlight concerns over Nigeria’s attacking depth and raise questions about the need for more consistency from other forwards as the Super Eagles look to bounce back in future campaigns.
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