Former Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins has said that the national team should not rely solely on Victor Osimhen to spearhead the attack.
He emphasised the necessity for competition among forwards to reduce their dependence on the Galatasaray player.
Nigeria faced challenges whenever the Galatasaray striker was sidelined due to injury during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, failing to secure victory in any of the five matches he missed.
Martins recalled the intense competition he faced from Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Osaze Odemwingie and Julius Aghahowa during his time with the Super Eagles.
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Martins said, “It is essential to have someone who can compete with all the players, not just Osimhen.
“During my time, we had Yakubu. If Yakubu was in the starting lineup, I would be on the bench, waiting for my opportunity.
“I understood that if he was unavailable and I scored, I would earn a starting position in the next match. We operated like that. There was no animosity between us because of it.”
Martins noted that Osimhen’s enthusiasm should not be misconstrued as a negative attitude and urged Nigeria to recognise and support their star striker.
“You cannot silence him. I believe that is what drives him, as his demeanor does not indicate a poor attitude. That is simply how he plays, and many people fail to grasp that.
“Having him in the national team is a blessing for us as Nigerians. We should strive to keep him content and enable him to score more goals.”
Osimhen currently has 35 international goals and is just two goals shy of equalling Rashidi Yekini’s record as Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer.
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