Ighalo Backs Osimhen To Lead Super Eagles After Troost-Ekong Retirement

With William Troost-Ekong’s retirement officially closing one leadership chapter in the Super Eagles, attention has quickly shifted to a crucial question ahead of AFCON 2025: who should take over the captain’s armband?

Former Super Eagles striker and AFCON top scorer, Odion Ighalo, has now weighed into the debate, throwing his full support behind Victor Osimhen as the ideal successor to lead Nigeria into the tournament and beyond.

Speaking during a video conversation with former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh, Ighalo explained that his endorsement of Osimhen goes far beyond goals or star power. According to him, leadership is about timing, character and the courage to demand standards — qualities he believes the Napoli and Galatasaray star possesses in abundance.

“I will pick Victor [Osimhen],” Ighalo stated emphatically before explaining his reasoning.

“I’ll give you my reason why. Not because he’s the oldest player in the team, but because there are people ahead of him in the team. There’s like four or five right now. I think Simon is the oldest, there are people ahead of him. But because now Osimhen is doing well, he is in his time. And he has the balls to demand what they want.”

While players like Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi boast more caps and seniority, Ighalo believes Osimhen’s current form, confidence and presence make him best suited for the responsibility, especially with the intense pressure AFCON brings.

The former Manchester United forward also highlighted Osimhen’s vocal nature, describing it as a major leadership asset rather than a flaw. In contrast to Ndidi’s calm and reserved personality, Ighalo sees Osimhen as someone unafraid to speak up for the group.

“Ndidi is not a talking type. Indeed he’s a very calm guy. But Osimhen is outspoken. He’s going to speak on behalf of the team. He’s gonna ginger the boys,” Ighalo said.

“You see in the game sometimes he will say, ‘hey, hey, come on’. Sometimes you see him talking loud. He’s going to fight for the boys. He’s going to speak to anybody he needs to speak to, to make sure they are OK.”

Beyond words, Ighalo stressed that Osimhen’s greatest leadership quality is how he carries himself on the pitch. His relentless pressing, visible hunger, and refusal to disappear when games become difficult are traits that naturally command respect from teammates.

As Nigeria intensifies preparations for AFCON 2025 — including a recent friendly loss to Egypt in Cairo — the former striker believes these qualities matter more than seniority alone. With Morocco set to host the tournament and expectations high, the Super Eagles will need leaders who can absorb pressure and inspire belief in decisive moments.

Troost-Ekong’s sudden exit may have created a leadership vacuum, but Ighalo’s perspective suggests Nigeria already has a figure capable of filling it. Whether Osimhen, who is yet to report to camp and missed the friendly against Egypt, eventually wears the armband or not, the conversation highlights a deeper truth.

As AFCON 2025 draws closer, leadership — not just talent — may ultimately define how far the Super Eagles go in North Africa.

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