Super Eagles: ‘Nigeria needs more strikers’ – Obafemi Martins speaks on Osimhen’s attitude
Former Super Eagles forward Obafemi Martins has urged the national team to broaden its attacking options and not rely solely on striker Victor Osimhen.
Martins expressed the importance of fostering healthy competition among forwards to alleviate the team’s dependence on the Galatasaray player. He pointed out that Nigeria struggled in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when Osimhen was absent due to injury, failing to secure a win in any of the five matches he missed.
Reflecting on his own experiences with the Super Eagles, Martins recalled competing with notable players such as Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Osaze Odemwingie, and Julius Aghahowa.
In an interview on The Obi One Podcast, Martins stated, “It is essential to have someone who can compete with all the players, not just Osimhen.” He highlighted the camaraderie among teammates, explaining that if Yakubu was in the starting lineup, he would wait for his chance on the bench. “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,” he said.
Martins also emphasized that Osimhen’s competitive spirit should not be misunderstood as a negative attitude. He encouraged the country to recognize and support their star player. “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,” he noted.
He went on to assert that Osimhen’s presence on the national team is a significant asset. “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 holds 35 international goals and is just two goals short of matching Rashidi Yekini’s record as Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer.
