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Osimhen has scored 23 goals in 39 games for the Super Eagles and is Nigeria's second-highest goalscorer of all time
Former Nigerian international Etim Esin has urged the Super Eagles to look into adding more firepower to their attacking options ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
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While Victor Osimhen remains the standout performer, Esin believes the team's overdependence on the Galatasaray star could spell trouble in their quest for continental glory.
Super Eagles’ worrying reliance on Osimhen
Osimhen has been a beacon of consistency for the Super Eagles, boasting 23 goals in 39 appearances—a record that far surpasses his striking counterparts.
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However, Etim Esin has voiced concerns over the inability of other forwards to replicate their club form on the international stage.
Players like Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi, and Southampton’s Paul Onuachu have struggled to deliver for Nigeria.
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Boniface, despite his stellar performances in Germany to help Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga last season, has yet to score in 11 caps for the national team.
Similarly, Awoniyi has managed just two goals in 10 appearances, and Onuachu has found the net only three times in 24 outings.
Esin calls for solutions before 2025 AFCON
Speaking in an interview with Complete Sports, Esin noted the risks of relying solely on Osimhen, warning, “In any tournament, you must depend on your strikers to deliver. If we keep relying solely on Osimhen, it will get us nowhere.
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“What happens if he gets injured? Does that mean we won’t score? It’s very worrying. A striker playing the number nine role must score consistently for his country—that’s the standard worldwide. You can’t play four games for your country without scoring a goal; it doesn’t make sense.”
Esin also questioned the inability of other forwards to step up, adding, “Boniface, for instance, has been given numerous opportunities, but he still can’t score for Nigeria. This is becoming a major concern.
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"Does it mean Eguavoen cannot rely on any other striker? Or are we saying that if Osimhen doesn’t score, then Nigeria won’t score?
The former Super Eagles star also stressed the need for strikers who can rise to the occasion and called on the management of the Super Eagles to solve the problem before the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
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