Super Eagles interim boss Austin Eguavoen has shared insights into Victor Osimhen’s role in Nigeria’s upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic.
Osimhen, who recently completed a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray, joined the Super Eagles camp on Thursday after a long break from competitive football. The star striker has not featured in any matches for either club or country for over three months, following his exclusion from Napoli’s squad.
Eguavoen, speaking at a pre-match press conference, discussed the situation surrounding Osimhen and the team’s preparations for the crucial game. “We have 23 quality players in the squad, including Victor. It’s a good problem for the coach, but I’ll have to sleep over it and decide who starts tomorrow,” Eguavoen said. He acknowledged that it is challenging to choose the starting lineup with so many talented players available, but he emphasized that everyone in the squad is fit and ready to play.
As for the goalkeeper position, Eguavoen is yet to make a final decision on whether to continue with Stanley Nwabali, who has been the first-choice since the 2023 AFCON, or to start Maduka Okoye, who has been in excellent form with Udinese.
Eguavoen’s primary goal for the match remains clear: to secure all three points against Benin Republic and move closer to qualification. The Super Eagles are focused on performance and not revenge, despite previous losses to Benin.
