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Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma has responded to Victor Osimhen’s passionate declaration that he would do everything to help Nigeria beat Gabon and qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Footynaija.com reports.
In a thinly veiled dig, the Panthers’ boss mocked the Super Eagles striker by recalling a similar promise Osimhen made before Nigeria’s defeat to Ivory Coast in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Galatasaray forward has been central to Nigeria’s qualifying hopes, scoring six goals in five appearances to help the three-time African champions gather 13 points from a possible 15. Without him, the Super Eagles looked flat, earning just four points from the same number of matches.
Osimhen has made it clear that he dreams of playing at next year’s World Cup in North America, having painfully missed out on the 2022 edition in Qatar when Nigeria fell to Ghana on the now-scrapped away goals rule.
Ahead of the crucial playoff clash against Gabon, he urged fans and teammates to unite, insisting he would give his all for qualification.
Asked to comment on Victor Osimhen’s vow, Mouyouma couldn’t resist a playful jab.
“Osimhen said he would do everything to take Nigeria to the World Cup,” he said at Thursday’s press conference.
“I think Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has already answered this question and demonstrated by scoring four goals against The Gambia. So, I have almost nothing to say about Osimhen’s words.
“It’s motivation, a call to unite his team behind him. But he also said in the last Afcon that he would do everything to bring the cup to Nigeria. Unfortunately, Ivory Coast won. Well, these are motivational words that everyone uses without conviction. It’s his opinion alone.”
Osimhen, Nigeria’s second-highest goalscorer with 29 goals, has earned a reputation for his fiery passion and relentless drive. Aubameyang, on the other hand, remains Gabon’s all-time top scorer with 39 goals and still a talismanic figure for his country.
