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The Digest:

Former Nigeria striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has pinpointed the Super Eagles' over-reliance on Victor Osimhen as the key factor behind their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Aiyegbeni criticized other strikers in the squad for failing to step up, emphasizing that Osimhen remained the only forward consistently performing "like a madman" while others appeared content just to be in the team.

Key Points:
  • Yakubu Aiyegbeni blamed over-dependence on Osimhen for World Cup failure.
  • Osimhen scored a hat-trick against Gabon in the African playoffs.
  • Nigeria has never lost a match when Osimhen scored or assisted.
  • Aiyegbeni criticized other strikers for not delivering when needed.
  • He described Osimhen as aggressive and uniquely driven on the pitch.
  • The Eagles lost to DR Congo in the final after Osimhen was substituted.
  • Aiyegbeni claimed other attackers were “just happy to be in the team.”
When one star carries the hopes of a nation, his shadow can sometimes obscure the need for others to shine—a painful lesson in the cost of dependency at the highest level.


Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, Social Media