AFCON: Ighalo hails Victor Osimhen as “biggest player” in Nigeria squad

Former Nigerian senior men national team striker Odion Ighalo has hailed Victor Osimhen as the “biggest player” in the current national team.

Ighalo made the remarks following Osimhen’s Man of the Match performance in Nigeria’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Saturday.

 

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The Galatasaray striker scored once and provided an assist for Akor Adams during the high-stakes encounter.

Speaking as a guest on SuperSport’s AFCON coverage, Ighalo while reacting on the game and the incident which happened in the quarter final stage noted that in intense games, top players often let their emotions show as he observed that Osimhen thrives on intensity.

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“In games like that, there are always emotions, and there are always players who want it more and react in different ways. We have seen Ronaldo do things like that. We have seen big players do it. Though Victor is not Ronaldo, in the Nigeria team, he is the biggest player for me in that team.

And the calm Osimhen doesn’t play well. You need to watch Osimhen when he’s angry, and then you’ll see his best performance today.And the calm Osimhen doesn’t play well.”

The former Nigerian international also praised head coach Éric Chelle for his mature handling of a reported rift between Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

“You do not take your best player out of the team, no matter what. You just have to settle it. I like the way the coach handled it inside the dressing room and did not make a big problem out of it.”

Osimhen’s goal on Saturday was his fourth of the tournament, leaving him just one goal behind Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.

Nigeria is set to lock horns with the host nation and three-time African champions this coming Wednesday.