Victor Osimhen without a doubt is the most influential player in the current Super Eagles squad.
The 26-year-old’s 26 goals in 42 caps is a testament to just how important he is when it comes to delivering the goods.
It was no surprise when he came off in discomfort in Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda that players on the pitch, the coaching crew in the dugout and fans in the stadium and beyond were concerned.
Indeed, anytime Osimhen was injured and missed a game for Nigeria, the team struggled to get a win such as the 1-1 reverse fixture with South Africa in Uyo and the 2-1 loss to Benin in Abidjan last year.
Other notable games included the 1-1 draws with Lesotho and Zimbabwe at the beginning of qualifiers in November 2023, and has made the journey to play in North America next year a bumpy one.
That however changed on Saturday when Tolu Arokodare came on in the second half and scored the decisive goal that handed Eric Chelle’s side all three points.
The newly-signed Wolverhampton Wanderers forward was not only about the goal he scored but his imposing presence on the pitch.
The Rwandan defense found it difficult to contain him due to his physical strength which allowed him to roam in and around the box and open up more scoring opportunities for the team.
TEA well served ☕️ pic.twitter.com/03eNcWbp9Z
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 6, 2025
This is something the Super Eagles have lacked in Osimhen’s absence when utilising players like Paul Onuachu, Umar Sadiq, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface, Kelechi Iheanacho among others, and the result has been a struggle to create clear cut chances.
Arokodare however brings a different dimension and could just be the perfect replacement if Osimhen is sidelined.
The Galatasaray star will not be available for Tuesday’s decisive trip to Bloemfontein against South Africa but there is a sense of calm that Arokodare can deliver what is expected.
It probably explains why he was able to make a name for himself in the Belgian Pro League with Genk where he scored 41 goals in 113 competitive appearances.
It was also probably why Wolves forked out £24 million to bring him to the Molineux on transfer deadline day.
It is exciting times for the Festac-born player and he might just be the one who makes the difference in ensuring Nigeria reach the World Cup finals for the seventh time in their history.
