Mikel Obi Hails Osimhen As Nigeria’s “Lifeline” In 2026 World Cup Quest

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has declared that Nigeria’s chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs would have been “dead” without the brilliance of Victor Osimhen, describing the striker as the heartbeat of the national team.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel credited the Galatasaray forward for almost singlehandedly rescuing Nigeria’s qualification hopes, particularly after his hat-trick heroics in the 4–0 victory over Benin in the final Group C match — a result that sealed the Super Eagles’ place in the playoffs.

“If we didn’t win that game, we wouldn’t be talking about trying to qualify for the World Cup,” Mikel said. “Victor Osimhen has singlehandedly kept us alive. One of the biggest games, he’s come out and scored a hat-trick.”

The former Chelsea midfielder underscored Osimhen’s indispensability by citing the team’s struggles whenever he’s absent. In matches without the star forward, Nigeria failed to record a single win — managing four draws and one defeat — underscoring how deeply the team depends on his presence.

“You can see the intensity, passion, aggressiveness he shows,” Mikel added. “When the pressure is on, the big boys step up, and that’s exactly what he has done. He’s the big boy in that team right now, and we all needed him.”

Osimhen’s leadership and tenacity, Mikel argued, have been the driving force keeping the Super Eagles’ World Cup dream alive