“We Can Cope Without Osimhen”: Super Eagles Legend Speaks on Galatasaray Forward Replacements, Video
- Super Eagles legend Victor Ikpeba said Nigeria's squad can play better without Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen
- Nigeria have scored nine goals in the 2026 CAF qualification series, with the former Napoli forward scoring three goals
- The former RFC Liege has listed reasons why the current players are struggling to put up an impressive performance
Victor Ikpeba has reignited his conversation on the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen.
The Super Eagles legend is unimpressed with the commitment of a large number of players in the squad.
Source: Getty Images
Nigeria is struggling to finish second in the 2026 CAF qualification series to secure an opportunity to play in the second round and claim one of the slots in the intercontinental playoff.
The three-time AFCON winners are six points behind South Africa, who have 17 points, per TnTSports.
Super Eagles can excel without Osimhen - Ikpeba
Monaco legend Victor Ikpeba said Nigeria can perform well in the absence of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen.
In a viral video on X, the 52-year-old explained that the team possesses a large number of excellent players who perform well in their respective clubs.
The 1997 CAF Player of the Year emphasised that the players are not playing for pride, but rather for glamour. He said:
We can cope without Victor Osimhen; we have Tolu Arokodare, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, and Moses Simon.
"When you look at the team, what we have, South Africans don't have it but what you guys have is heart. Nigeria need more from our boys, the heart to play for pride, that is what is lacking.
"It is sad, for an ex-international, I try to be constructive and objective. Some of the ex-internationals do not know what is happening in the camp. We see them play on Europe, we have to question the mentality of the players. During my era, we knew what it took to play for the Super Eagles."
Source: Getty Images
Fixtures are congested - Ikpeba
1994 AFCON winner Victor Ikpeba said the World football governing body, FIFA, needs to consider the health of the players.
Ikpeba said during the 90s, players had the time to train together for a longer period before executing the qualifiers (World Cup or Nations Cup). He said:
"I do discuss about these fixtures with my colleagues like Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Eguaveon and I think sometimes, I don't want to criticise FIFA or CAF, there should be fairness. Players need to be given enough time to rest, and play the next game.
"I didn't have this kind of fixtures during my time (in the 90's), we played once a week and had time to rest; there are so many games for these players; they are not machines.
"South Africa and Benin Republic had their game on Friday (September 5), Rwanda and Nigeria played on Saturday (September 6), they said it is all about TV. FIFA and CAF should consider the other side by providing equal opportunities for all teams to play on the same day and rest on the same day, as South Africa had an additional day to recover."
Ikpeba blames Super Eagles players for World Cup qualifiers' struggles
Legit.ng earlier reported that Victor Ikpeba stated that the current Super Eagles players should be held responsible if the country fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
He explained that the Super Eagles have failed to live up to the expectations, and they have themselves to blame.
Source: Legit.ng
