Etim Esin Warns – Super Eagles’ Overreliance On Osimhen Alarming

Former Nigeria international Etim Esin has voiced concerns over the persistent underperformance of strikers, aside from Victor Osimhen, in international matches. He described the situation as troubling and in need of urgent attention, according to Completesports

Despite having a squad of talented strikers excelling in their club careers, many of them struggle to replicate their form for the Super Eagles. Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, for example, has faced criticism for his disappointing performances during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda. Though Boniface has 11 caps for Nigeria, he has yet to score for the national team.

Other strikers have also faced difficulties. Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest has scored just two goals in 10 appearances, while Southampton’s Paul Onuachu has netted three times in 24 matches. Terem Moffi has scored four goals in 18 appearances, and Umar Sadiq has one goal in 12 appearances.

In stark contrast, Victor Osimhen, the current African Player of the Year, has netted 23 goals in 39 appearances for Nigeria. Osimhen missed the Super Eagles' first four matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, during which the team scored just four goals — courtesy of Semi Ajayi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Raphael Onyedika. In the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Osimhen was the only striker to score, with the rest of the goals coming from Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and midfielder Dele-Bashiru.

In an exclusive interview with Completesports.com, Esin expressed his frustration with the lack of consistency from the strikers, calling it a significant concern.

“In any tournament, you must depend on your strikers to deliver,” Esin said. “If we keep relying solely on Osimhen, it will get us nowhere. Osimhen can only do so much. What if he gets injured? Does that mean we won’t score? It’s very worrying. A striker in the number nine role must score consistently for his country — that’s the standard worldwide. You can’t play four games without scoring a goal; it doesn’t make sense.”

Esin also pointed out Boniface’s struggles, noting that despite being given numerous opportunities, the striker has failed to score for Nigeria. “This is becoming a major concern. Does it mean we can’t rely on any other striker? Or are we saying that if Osimhen doesn’t score, Nigeria won’t score?”

Esin, who played alongside legendary strikers like the late Rashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia, and Richard Owubokiri, stressed the importance of having strikers who can deliver both for club and country. He pointed out that while Boniface is prolific in Germany, he continues to miss chances for Nigeria. “We need to address this issue before AFCON 2025; otherwise, we’ll face a serious problem.”

The 58-year-old also suggested that the absence of a creative midfielder, specifically a playmaker who can orchestrate attacks and provide assists, might be affecting the strikers' ability to perform.

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