Odion Ighalo, a former Super Eagles forward pinpointed as one of the best strikers in Nigerian football history has expressed his faith in Victor Osimhen to lead the national team following the retirement of captain Ahmed Musa.
At the moment, the Super Eagles are currently in Morocco where they are set to fight for the title of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
It has been brought to the general notice that the captain Musa announced his retirement from the Super Eagles team earlier this week, and the assistant captain William Troost-Ekong also announced his retirement earlier this month.
Also Read: Ahmed Musa Retires From Super Eagles
From a clear indication, it means that the captaincy position is empty, though it has been filled by Wilfred Ndidi on several occasions, but Ighalo believes that Galatasaray forward Osimhen has what it takes to lead the Eagles.
Speaking to Colin Udoh, an ESPN journalist, Odiong Ighalo says; “There are several players ahead of him (as senior players), but now Osimhen is doing well and he has the balls to demand what the team wants.”
“I know the Besiktas defensive Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, he’s not the talking type, he’s a very calm guy, but Osimhen is outspoken, he is going to speak on behalf of the team, he’s going to ginger the boys, he’s going to fight for the boys, he will speak to any body he needs to speak to to make sure they are okay.
”The job of a captain is very delicate, and it is not easy because your neck is on the line, because whatever the boys demand it’s you that will put it forward to the NFF.
“And if the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) wants to come for anybody, they are coming for you because you are the captain.
“To me, Osimhen can speak and nothing can happen because he’s the biggest player in the team, so they won’t want to look down on him, they will listen to him because he’s doing well.
”When you’re doing well, you have every power to demand for stuff and he’s in that position.
“He has the character to step up and demand for the team because when you see him he is hustling, he’s showing it on the pitch and so you as a player will listen to him and also fight for the team.”
