‘I knew the game was finished’ — Aiyegbeni says Super Eagles are over-reliant on Osimhen

Former striker blames Nigeria’s World Cup failure on a one-man attack that collapsed the moment Osimhen limped off

Yakubu Aiyegbeni believes Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup came down to one problem the team has refused to fix for years, an over-dependence on Victor Osimhen. And for him, the loss to DR Congo only confirmed it.

Nigeria’s play-off hopes unraveled the moment Osimhen went down with a hamstring injury and failed to return for the second half. Up to that point, the Napoli striker had been at the heart of the entire qualification run, scoring a hat-trick and then a brace against Gabon. But once he limped off, the Super Eagles simply fell apart.

Aiyegbeni, speaking on a podcast, said he knew instantly that the match was slipping away.
“The moment Osimhen went out against DR Congo, I knew the game was finished,” he said, adding that Nigeria “were tactless, with no game plan” as Congo grew stronger after the break.

His assessment wasn’t far from what played out on the pitch. Nigeria failed to register a single shot on target for the rest of the game, through the second half and extra time, before eventually losing on penalties. The introduction of Arokodare offered little change, with the striker unable to trouble Congo’s defense or create meaningful chances.

Nigeria vs Gabon: Fredrick Ends Ekong’s Reign As Osimhen Goes From Villain To Hero

Aiyegbeni argued that a team with Nigeria’s talent cannot afford to rely so heavily on one forward. Osimhen’s presence typically forces defenders into panic; his absence, however, left a visible creative vacuum and exposed how predictable the attack has become.

Nigeria’s failure to book a World Cup ticket has now pushed all focus to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Super Eagles will need more than Osimhen’s recovery; they will need structure, intent, and a clearer attacking identity to restore confidence after such a painful exit.