For too long, Nigeria’s goal-scoring hopes have rested on the broad shoulders of one man — Victor Osimhen.
The Galatasaray forward has been the heartbeat of the Super Eagles attack, carrying the weight of a nation each time he dons the green and white.
When Osimhen delivers, Nigeria soars. When he’s absent, the team flounders, exposing a troubling overreliance that could cost the nation dearly on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Across the last ten World Cup qualifying games, the statistics are as revealing as they are alarming. Osimhen featured in only five matches — and scored six goals. The other five games, played in his absence, yielded almost nothing from his attacking colleagues.
This glaring imbalance paints a worrying picture of a side that lacks cutting edge without its talisman. It’s a reality that should send shivers down the spine of any serious football manager, particularly Eric Chelle, who now bears the heavy responsibility of steering the Super Eagles through the perilous play-off route in Morocco next month.
The uncomfortable truth is that, had other strikers contributed even half of Osimhen’s output in those fixtures, Nigeria might have sealed automatic qualification. Instead, we are now condemned to navigate the uncertainty of the CAF play-offs — a do-or-die route notorious for upsets. That is not just a footballing misfortune; it’s a failure of collective responsibility. Football is a team sport, and goals should never be the burden of one man.
Nigeria boasts an array of forwards who, on paper, can hold their own. Terem Moffi dazzles in Ligue 1. Victor Boniface is a powerhouse in the Bundesliga. Ademola Lookman has proven himself in Serie A with Atalanta.
There’s also Victor Arokodare and James Akor, both hungry young strikers with the potential to make a mark. Yet, none of them has shown the ruthless consistency or killer instinct needed to lighten Osimhen’s load. Talent alone doesn’t win World Cup tickets — courage, conviction, and composure in front of goal do.
Eric Chelle must now find a way to extract more from his attacking unit. The Super Eagles cannot approach the playoffs with a one-man goal plan. It’s suicidal.
Opponents will be well-prepared to neutralize Osimhen, and once that happens, Nigeria’s threat diminishes drastically. Chelle’s tactical focus must shift from Osimhen-dependence to striker empowerment. The others need to feel, believe, and act like match-winners — not passengers waiting for the number nine to bail them out.
The danger of overreliance is not theoretical; it’s practical. Injuries happen, suspensions occur, and fatigue is inevitable. What if Osimhen picks up an injury days before the playoffs? What if he limps off during the decisive match in Morocco? Who steps up then? If there is no clear answer to that question, Nigeria’s World Cup dreams will hang on a thread too thin for comfort.
History is replete with great teams undone by their overdependence on a single player — and Nigeria must not repeat that script.
Other African teams have learned this lesson. Morocco spread their goals across the team during their World Cup campaign. Senegal thrived even when Sadio Mané was unavailable. South Africa, though limited, found balance through shared responsibility. The modern game rewards teams that can score from multiple positions — wingers, midfielders, even defenders. Nigeria cannot afford to be predictable or narrow in attack anymore.
For Chelle and his coaching crew, this is the moment to instill hunger in the team’s frontline. The time for excuses is over. Moffi, Lookman, Arokodare, Akor — these are not fringe names. They are capable, tested, and should be scoring in double digits for club and country. If they can’t rise to the occasion when it matters most, then the Super Eagles’ claim to greatness will remain hollow talk.
As the play-offs approach, Nigerians want to see fight, not fear. They want goals, not regrets. Osimhen has done his part, and no one can question his commitment or productivity. But football nations are built on depth and resilience, not dependence. If the Super Eagles truly aim to soar in Morocco and beyond, then every striker must find his scoring boots — and find them fast.
Because when the whistle blows in the playoffs, one truth will stand, Nigeria cannot fly to the World Cup on the wings of one eagle.
“Eric Chelle must now find a way to extract more from his attacking unit. The Super Eagles cannot approach the playoffs with a one-man goal plan. It’s suicidal“
