Tijani Babangida Warns Chelle Against Dependence On Osimhen Ahead Of AFCON 2025

Former Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida has urged Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to break what he describes as a “dangerous” dependency on Victor Osimhen as the push for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title gathers pace.

Babangida, speaking to Tribal Football, said the national team’s growing habit of placing its hopes on one player is risky, especially with AFCON 2025 fast approaching.

Osimhen’s influence on the side is no secret. The Galatasaray forward has scored 31 goals in 43 games for Nigeria, placing him just six shy of the legendary Rashidi Yekini.

Yet Babangida believes the team’s record with and without the striker highlights the problem. With him fit, Nigeria have lost five of their last 40 matches. Without him, they have suffered 11 defeats in 29 games and managed just nine wins.

Those numbers became a talking point during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when Osimhen’s absence coincided with a poor run of results. The team failed to win any of their opening four matches, recording three draws and a defeat.

His return changed the mood. Osimhen struck six times during the final six qualifiers as Nigeria recorded 14 points from a possible 18. His efforts revived belief, but the Super Eagles still finished behind South Africa in the race for automatic qualification.

In the playoffs, he delivered again, scoring twice in an extra-time win over Gabon, only to suffer an injury in the final. Once he limped off, DR Congo took control and went on to win on penalties. The defeat remains a painful reminder of how much the side leans on him.

“It is dangerous that it appears that the Super Eagles is built around Victor Osimhen. It was when he was removed in the beginning of the second half against Congo, that the team started to struggle. That is very bad,” Babangida said.

“The Super Eagles of my time was not built around one player. Many people have observed that Super Eagles is built around Osimhen. This is a problem that Eric Chelle must fix, if the team wants to win the AFCON.

“Chelle must impact this mentality to all the players, the attackers especially, that the team is not built around Osimhen. Any player given the nod to feature in any game must perform very well and play as a team.”

He added that ambition alone is not enough if others are not ready to rise to the task.

“We need a fully fit Osimhen, but we also need a fully mentally prepared players who knows that with or without Osimhen, Super Eagles can win,” he said. “Morale should be high in the team whether Osimhen is there or not. Osimhen was absent in most of the games that the team failed to win during the World Cup qualifiers.

“Super Eagles should not be in a mess, if Osimhen is injured. Chelle must address this issue because injury is part of the game. Osimhen’s absent in any game should not be the end of the world for Super Eagles.”

Nigeria begin their AFCON campaign on 23 December against Tanzania, with Tunisia and Uganda also in Group C. The team will open camp in Egypt this weekend, and Osimhen is expected to be among the first players to report for duty.