Three Defining Battles Ahead For Victor Osimhen As Super Eagles Talisman

13 Nov 2025, 11:05 by Ernest Victor · Naija News

As the CAF 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs approach in Morocco, the Super Eagles of Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and the weight of expectation falls squarely on the shoulders of one man, Victor Osimhen.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, Victor Osimhen has carried both the burden and the brilliance of Nigerian football. He is not just another forward; he is the heartbeat of the team.

His impact is written in hard numbers: Nigeria has failed to win any of the five games he missed during the current World Cup qualifying campaign, but in the five he started, he scored six goals and provided an assist.

When he was injured against Rwanda, confidence seemed to evaporate from the fans. That 1-1 draw with South Africa that followed felt like a warning sign, a reminder of what happens when their talisman is not there.

Yet, in moments of doubt, Osimhen often finds a way to drag Nigeria back to life. His stunning hat-trick against the Benin Republic in October reignited fading hopes and kept the World Cup dream alive.

Now, three decisive battles lie ahead, matches that will not only determine Nigeria’s fate but also shape Victor Osimhen’s legacy.

If he can carry the Super Eagles through these hurdles and into the World Cup next summer, he will cement his place among the greatest Nigerian footballers of all time.

Victor Osimhen’s First Test: Nigeria vs Gabon

The first challenge comes against Gabon, a fixture that offers both promise and danger. Osimhen, the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, will face another former winner of the same award, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

This match is about more than points, it is a chance to write history for Gabon. They have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and they will come into this game driven by that hunger. While Nigeria boasts five wins in nine previous meetings, Gabon’s only victory, back in 1989, came in a World Cup qualifier. That memory will serve as their motivation to repeat the feat.

Osimhen’s Second Test: Nigeria vs Cameroon or DR Congo

If Nigeria overcomes Gabon, another storm awaits, a showdown with either Cameroon or DR Congo. Both teams pose unique challenges.

Cameroon represents the ghosts of Nigeria’s footballing past. The Indomitable Lions have been long-standing rivals, and they have denied Nigeria a World Cup ticket before. The most haunting memory came in 2000, when the Super Eagles lost the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalties in Lagos. Beating them now would be both redemption and relief.

DR Congo, on the other hand, brings a different kind of threat, quiet, disciplined, and fiercely determined. Led by veterans like Chancel Mbemba and Cedric Bakambu, along with talents such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Noah Sadiki, the Congolese side will treat this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make history. They may not have Nigeria’s star power, but their hunger could make them dangerous.

Osimhen’s leadership and ability to lift the team when pressure mounts could make the difference between triumph and heartbreak.

Final Hurdle: The Intercontinental Playoffs

Should the Super Eagles survive Africa’s playoff gauntlet, they will face one last hurdle, the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament in March 2026.

According to FIFA, “the four lowest-ranked nations in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will meet in bracket semi-finals. The two highest-ranked teams will go directly into the finals. The winners of the two bracket finals will reach the FIFA World Cup 26.”

It will be a brutal final test, a stage where small mistakes can erase years of effort.

These matches represent more than qualification for Victor Osimhen; they are the chapters that will define his legacy. He has already proven his worth as a star. Now he has the chance to be remembered as the man who led Nigeria through the storm to the promised land.