Former Nigerian international, John Mikel Obi, has said that without Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s chances of reaching the playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup would have been over.
Osimhen proved decisive in the qualification race, netting a hat-trick in Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin Republic in their final Group C encounter, a result that secured the team’s place in the playoff round.
The Galatasaray striker’s consistency in front of goal has been crucial in reviving Nigeria’s World Cup hopes.
Notably, the Super Eagles have struggled in his absence, failing to win any of the matches he missed, recording four draws and one loss, which underscores his significance to the team.
Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel praised Osimhen’s passion and leadership, describing him as the driving force behind Nigeria’s qualification push.
“Credit to the boys, they absolutely did that and of course the main man we’ve talked about so many times on this podcast. Absolutely brilliant. Yes, it was against Benin, people can say he scored a hat-trick but you still have to score this hat-trick, you still have to show up. It was our biggest game of the season.
“If we didn’t win that game, we wouldn’t be talking about trying to qualify for the World Cup. Victor Osimhen has singlehandedly kept us alive. One of the biggest games, he’s come out and scored a hat-trick. You can see the intensity, passion, aggressiveness he shows.
“When the pressure is on, the big boys step up, and that’s exactly what he has done. He’s the big boy in that team right now, and we all needed him. The games that he didn’t play and the amount of games that we won without him compared to the games we won with him in the team is incredible.”
