Super Eagles Have Just One Recent Win Without Osimhen as Questions Grow
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have once again shown how much they have depended on Victor Osimhen, with the striker’s absence continuing to raise questions about the team’s attacking strength.
Recent statistics and reporting have highlighted Nigeria’s difficulty securing competitive victories when Osimhen is unavailable. A review published by PUNCH found that, over a six-year period, only one Super Eagles coach had secured a competitive victory when Osimhen was either unavailable or played fewer than 30 minutes.
That record has kept the debate about Nigeria’s reliance on the Galatasaray forward alive.
Osimhen has become one of the most important players in the national team since making his senior debut in 2017. The striker has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Nigeria, according to CAF.
The latest challenge came during Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, after Osimhen was ruled out with a muscle injury.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that the striker would miss the September qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau while recovering from a right thigh muscle problem.
His absence immediately placed additional responsibility on the other forwards in Eric Chelle’s squad.
Against Madagascar in Uyo, however, Nigeria showed that they can still find a way to win without their leading striker.
Madagascar took a 16th-minute lead before debutant George Ilenikhena equalised in first-half stoppage time. Another debutant, Moses Usor, then completed the comeback with a second-half goal to give Nigeria a 2-1 victory.
The result was particularly significant because it came without Osimhen and gave Chelle a winning start to the AFCON qualifying campaign.
While the victory over Madagascar provides evidence that Nigeria have other attacking options, the broader record continues to generate discussion.
Players such as Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams, George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor now have opportunities to establish themselves and reduce the pressure created by Osimhen’s absence.
For Chelle, the challenge is not simply finding someone to replace Osimhen's goals. It is developing an attacking system capable of producing results when the striker is unavailable.
Osimhen’s injury has therefore created an important test for the Super Eagles. The victory against Madagascar was a positive start, but Nigeria’s upcoming matches will provide a clearer picture of how effectively the team can perform without its leading striker.