Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is being praised as one of the best forwards in football. Former Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim said the Nigerian player is hard to stop, especially in one-on-one situations, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Terim highlighted Osimhen's goal-scoring skills, strength, and ability to take advantage of even the smallest defensive errors. He noted that when Osimhen is focused, he poses a real challenge for defenders.
"Osimhen is an extraordinary striker, among the best in the world. As long as he stays focused on the game, it’s really difficult to go one-on-one with him," Terim said as reported by 24saatgazetesi.
"He can score goals even when it’s not on his mind, even when there’s no scoring opportunity. He’s a striker who earns his own living the hard way."
Terim also mentioned how Osimhen can quickly punish mistakes made by opponents. He pointed out that managing his temperament is one area Osimhen needs to work on.
"He punishes you immediately if you make the slightest mistake as an opponent; he’s a completely different kind of player. He just needs to avoid getting unnecessarily angry or stressed," he added.
Osimhen's performance at the start of the season for Galatasaray shows the qualities Terim praised. He scored six goals and made two assists in four matches before he got a groin injury.
The Nigerian has not played since September 4, when he scored the first goal for Galatasaray in their 3-2 win over Istanbul Basaksehir. He had to leave the match in the 33rd minute due to pain in his right groin.
Medical tests showed he has a moderate-to-severe strain with bleeding in the right adductor muscle group. Because of this, Osimhen missed Galatasaray’s Champions League match against Sporting CP and their 1-0 league win over Kocaelispor.
Even with his injury, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle named Osimhen in his 24-man squad for Nigeria's opening matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria will play against Madagascar in Uyo on September 25, then head to Guinea-Bissau four days later. This gives Osimhen only a little time to prove he is fit to play.
On Thursday, Osimhen was still training separately from the main team, meaning he has not fully returned to training since his injury.
His spot in the squad does not mean he will start in either qualifier. His recovery and readiness for competitive play will determine what role he will take.
Chelle has also included Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams, and George Ilenikhena in the squad. This gives him other options in attack if Osimhen is not fit in time.
As Nigeria's first qualifier against Madagascar approaches, everyone is waiting to see if Osimhen can recover enough to be a key player for the team.
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