Where there is Victor Osimhen for Nigeria, there is hope.
The 27-year-old striker and his Nigeria team-mates face hosts Morocco in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, with five wins from five games so far.
Osimhen is joint second in the tournament’s top scorers list with four goals, level with Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and one behind Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.
But the tournament has not been plain sailing for Galatasaray striker Osimhen or the Super Eagles, with a high-profile on-field argument threatening to overshadow their impressive displays.
His spat with Ademola Lookman during the 4-0 last-16 win over Mozambique attracted plenty of headlines, with reports – which Nigeria have denied – even suggesting Osimhen had threatened to quit the camp.
Osimhen confronted Lookman over his failure to pass the ball to him in a clear goal-scoring position and then signalled to manager Eric Chelle to replace him, which he duly did. Osimhen went straight down the tunnel at full-time, not taking part in the on-field celebrations.
The storm has since died down, with players – including Osimhen himself – and Chelle insisting any internal conflict had been squashed soon after the final whistle.
But people who know him best insist Osimhen would not be the same striker without that will to win and say any accusations of selfishness towards the striker could not be further from the truth.
With two goals needed to level the late Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s record goal scorer with 37, Osimhen is on the brink of cementing his place in Nigerian football folklore.
He said: “It doesn’t matter if I equal the record or I surpass it. I think Mr Rashidi Yekini is the best striker the Super Eagles have ever produced.
“I’m just doing my best. Of course, it’s amazing to be part of the history of the Super Eagles.
“So I’m just trying to win something important for my country. And I think with the help of my team-mates, I’m on that path.”