Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has heaped praise on Victor Osimhen, describing the Napoli-owned striker as a great teammate and a leader both on and off the pitch.
Speaking via a Facebook post shared by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Troost-Ekong highlighted Osimhen’s impact in the Super Eagles camp.
“He’s a great teammate. In front of the goal, he can be very greedy, but he’s someone who speaks up for the team in the changing room. He’s a real leader, and I’m sure he’ll be captain soon,” Troost-Ekong said.
The praise reflects Osimhen’s growing stature within the national team. Despite not being the official captain, the 25-year-old has donned the armband in the absence of senior players like Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi, and Troost-Ekong himself.
Chasing Yekini’s 26-year-old record
Osimhen, who began his Super Eagles journey in 2017, has firmly established himself as the best player in Nigeria’s attack.
The Galatasaray striker recently equaled Segun Odegbami’s goal tally of 23, accomplishing the feat in just 38 appearances, nine fewer than Odegbami’s 47 caps between 1976 and 1981.
Now, Osimhen has set his sights on Rasheed Yekini’s long-standing record of 37 international goals.
Yekini, a Nigerian football icon, held the record for nearly three decades after representing the country in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups, where he famously scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal in the competition.
The reigning CAF Player of the Year is just 14 goals shy of Yekini’s record, and his consistent performances make him a strong contender to surpass the milestone.
With Troost-Ekong and Musa nearing the twilight of their international careers, Osimhen’s leadership qualities could see him officially join the Super Eagles’ captaincy ranks under a new coach.
