Adepoju urges Nigeria to end reliance on injured Osimhen

Nigeria will face Tanzania without Victor Osimhen after the Super Eagles striker suffered a knee injury, prompting renewed concern about the team’s dependence on its leading goalscorer.

Mutiu Adepoju believes Nigeria must show it can remain effective without its key players. The former Super Eagles midfielder, who was part of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team, said the national side could no longer rely so heavily on Osimhen.

Speaking to Africafoot, Adepoju said: “Nigeria must stop depending on Osimhen.”

He argued that every absent player should be replaceable without causing a significant decline in the team’s overall performance. Osimhen’s absence for the upcoming match against Tanzania has therefore increased pressure on the rest of the attack to respond.

Awoniyi and Arokodare given opportunity

Adepoju expects Taiwo Awoniyi and Tolu Arokodare to take advantage of the situation. The two forwards now have an opportunity to demonstrate that they can assume greater responsibility and provide the attacking threat Nigeria usually expects from Osimhen.

The former international nevertheless acknowledged Osimhen’s importance to the team. He highlighted the striker’s aggression, energy and mentality as major strengths, while stressing that Nigeria must develop enough depth to cope when those qualities are unavailable.

The Super Eagles have also been reminded of their previous setbacks. The defeat by Guinea-Bissau remains a particular concern for Adepoju, who believes Nigeria must learn from that result and respond immediately.

He said the team’s priority was to secure six points, underlining the need for a strong reaction in its upcoming fixtures. Without Osimhen, Nigeria will have to prove that it has sufficient resources to remain competitive and continue its progress towards the next CAN.

Nigeria are due to play Tanzania in their third match of the CAN 2027 qualifying campaign. The game will test whether the team can maintain its level without its injured attacking leader and whether Awoniyi and Arokodare can make the most of their opportunity.

The published 1xbet odds list Nigeria as favourites at 1,11. A draw is priced at 7,50, while a Tanzania victory is listed at 18,50.