Former Nigerian forward, Victor Ikpeba has expressed concern over the Super Eagles’ growing dependence on striker Victor Osimhen.
Speaking on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign, Ikpeba called for greater contributions from other players in the squad, particularly in attack.
“It’s worrisome,” Ikpeba said. “When you look at the Super Eagles squad and the quality we have, even when Victor is unavailable, others should be able to step up and do the job.”
Nigeria’s struggles in front of goal have been evident in recent qualifiers, and Ikpeba believes the lack of attacking depth is becoming a problem.
“Our goal-scoring record was poor before the last game against Benin Republic,” he added. “If you don’t score goals, you don’t win games.
“You have to kill off matches by getting the first, second, and third goals. Being just one goal up, like what happened against Zimbabwe, gives the opponent a chance to come back into the game. A quick counter, and suddenly you’re behind.”
There’s Enough Firepower, but No Real Impact
Ikpeba acknowledged that Nigeria has emerging options like Tolu Arokodare and Akor Adams, but insisted that relying solely on individual talent is not enough.
“Yes, we have players like Arokodare and Akor Adams, who is doing well at club level, but we also need to look at the team as a whole — defensively and in midfield,” he said.
“The talent is there, but sometimes you have to question the mentality of the players. That mentality has been missing in this qualification campaign, and that’s what concerns me most.”
Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification record reflects Ikpeba’s concerns
Nigeria failed to secure automatic qualification and had to settle for a playoff spot.
The team played five qualifiers without Osimhen and failed to register a win in any of them.
In contrast, they have won four of the five matches he has featured in, with the Napoli striker scoring six goals.
Also read: Sodje Slams Nwabali, Says Super Eagles Goalkeeper Needs to Be Checked
No Osimhen, No Super Eagles
Ikpeba fears that without Osimhen, the team may struggle in the crucial playoff round.
“Without him, you wonder where the goals will come from. We need others to take responsibility and show the same drive and focus, especially in high-stakes matches,” he stated.
As the Super Eagles prepare for the next phase of the qualification campaign, the spotlight will be on how the team adapts and responds without placing the burden entirely on one player.
