Today in Bloemfontein, the Super Eagles will answer the big poser whether they are just a team of Victor Osimhen and 10 other players, like the great Diego Maradona and Argentina at the peak of his powers.
In March, Osimhen scored twice in Rwanda to give the Super Eagles their first victory in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Galatasaray striker further underlined his importance a few days later by scoring the only goal for the Super Eagles in a 1-1 draw in Uyo.
“Osimhen is a big star, a very good player,” admitted coach Eric Chelle, while maintaining that he has a group of good players to get the job done in South Africa today even in the absence of the star striker.
At the delayed 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire last year, the Super Eagles went all the way to the final with Osimhen not the main star for Nigeria as captain William Ekong, Ademola Lookman and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali rose to the occasion.
At the delayed 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, Moses Simon turned heads as Nigeria crashed out of the tournament in the Round of 16 without the injured Victor Osimhen.
The flying winger is again up and running at his new French Ligue 1 club and can again be counted on to play a big role for Nigeria to win to stay alive in the World Cup qualifiers.
Osimhen, Ademola Lookman celebrate at 2023 AFCON
South Africa may not exactly be right to think that their task against the Super Eagles is half done with Osimhen back at his Turkish club no thanks to injury against Rwanda at the weekend.
Camp sources said Ademola Lookman, for one, is raring to go for today’s challenge.
Against Rwanda Saturday, he lacked the sharpness you get when you are playing regular first-team football.
But in training yesterday, he looked to be back at his best with the support he has enjoyed since he reported to camp after his well-documented transfer saga.
Despite his transfer travails, the former England U17 and U20 star is a top-class player that last December he was named Africa’s best player.
So even though he is not at his full powers, ‘Mola’ is capable of proving that the Super Eagles could still fly very high minus their poster boy.
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