Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has showered praise on Victor Osimhen, calling him the “big boy” of the Nigerian national team. Mikel celebrated the striker’s brilliant performance in Nigeria’s 4-0 victory over Benin Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifier, where Osimhen scored a stunning hat-trick in Uyo.

The convincing win helped Nigeria secure a place in the World Cup playoffs scheduled for November, keeping the country’s qualification dream alive. Osimhen’s performance was the highlight of the encounter and earned him massive recognition from fans and football legends alike.

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel applauded the Super Eagles for rising above off-field issues surrounding the football federation. He noted that despite talks of corruption and internal challenges, the players stayed focused and delivered when it mattered most. According to him, the fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic were “must-win games,” and the team achieved the task.

Mikel stressed that without Osimhen’s brilliance, Nigeria might not be in the World Cup conversation today. He praised the Napoli forward for stepping up under pressure, saying true stars show up in big moments. To Mikel, Osimhen has proven once again that he is the leader and driving force of the current Super Eagles squad.

He concluded that Osimhen has “single-handedly kept us alive” in the World Cup qualifiers and encouraged Nigerians to support the forward and the rest of the team as they head into the crucial playoff stage.