AFCON: Babangida warns Nigeria not to rely too much on Osimhen

Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida has warned coach Eric Chelle to stop building the Super Eagles around forward Victor Osimhen ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The Super Eagles will return to the North African nation seeking to lift their fourth title. Nigeria has so far won the AFCON three times: the first time was in 1980 and they won a second title in the 1994, held in Tunisia. Nigeria won their third African title in 2013, held in South Africa.

However, Nigeria will head into the AFCON having failed to qualify for the 48-team expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles suffered defeat against DR Congo in the playoffs.

Osimhen’s absence should not be Nigeria’s end

Against the Leopards during the playoffs, Osimhen only played for 45 minutes and limped off for the half-time break never to return for the second period. His absence was a significant blow since he was their most influential player throughout the qualifiers, having netted eight goals in just seven appearances.

“It is dangerous that it appears that the Super Eagles is built around Victor Osimhen. It was when Osimhen was removed in the beginning of the second half against Congo, that the team started to struggle. That is very bad,” said Babangida as quoted by Tribal Football.

“The Super Eagles of my time was not built around one player. Many people have observed that Super Eagles is built around Osimhen. This is a problem that Eric Chelle must fix, if the team wants to win the AFCON.

“Chelle must impact this mentality to all the players, the attackers especially, that the team is not built around Osimhen. Any player given the nod to feature in any game must perform very well and play as a team.”

Babangida continued: “We need a fully fit Osimhen, but we also need a fully mentally prepared players who knows that with or without Osimhen, Super Eagles can win. Morale should be high in the team whether Osimhen is there or not. Osimhen was absent in most of the games that the team failed to win during the World Cup qualifiers.

“Super Eagles should not be in a mess, if Osimhen is injured. Chelle must address this issue because injury is part of the game. Osimhen’s absent in any game should not be the end of the world for Super Eagles.”

Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia.

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