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Former Nigeria striker Victor Ikpeba insists the Super Eagles can cope without talisman Victor Osimhen in Tuesday’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa, footynaija.com reports.
Osimhen, who has been central to Nigeria’s attack, limped off during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo and did not travel to Bloemfontein.
His absence is a major blow, but Ikpeba believes Jose Peseiro’s side still carry enough quality to trouble Bafana Bafana.
“We can cope without Victor because we have guys such as Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Wilfred Ndidi — this is a strong team,” Ikpeba said as per Times Live.
“The difference is Bafana players have heart and that is what we need from our boys because that’s what has been lacking. He is a huge player for the Super Eagles but we can cope without him.”
Ikpeba, a member of Nigeria’s famous 1994 World Cup squad and former Monaco and Borussia Dortmund forward, is in Bloemfontein alongside fellow legends Nwankwo Kanu and Augustine Eguavoen. He believes Nigeria’s European-based squad still gives them the edge, provided they rise to the occasion.
“If you look at our squad list, we have so much potential. I don’t think some of the big footballing nations on the continent have what we have. We have some of the best players on the continent but we have not been able to get the best out of these players,” he said.
“The boys have not been able to deliver and that shows the difficulty of coming back from Europe to play on the continent. They know what is expected of them back home and they just have to deliver.”
Nigeria’s sluggish start to qualifying has left them chasing the pack. They’ve taken only three points from their opening four matches, a record Ikpeba described as “disappointing.”
South Africa, meanwhile, sit in pole position in Group C after winning their last four qualifiers, including Friday’s 3-0 win over Lesotho. A victory against Nigeria would put Hugo Broos’ men on the brink of a first World Cup qualification — outside of their hosting role in 2010 — since 2002.
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