Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has entrusted star striker Victor Osimhen with two significant responsibilities as Nigeria prepares to kick off its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco. Osimhen has been officially named the team's first vice-captain and will also serve as the designated penalty taker for the tournament.
Leadership and Duty for the Galatasaray Star
The decision comes ahead of Nigeria's crucial opening Group C match against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, scheduled for 6:30 PM Nigerian time. Osimhen will now deputise for the newly appointed team captain, Wilfred Ndidi, who took over the armband following the international retirement of former skipper William Troost-Ekong.
A source within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the dual appointment to the press. "Victor Osimhen will deputise for Wilfred Ndidi as captain of the team. The Galatasaray striker has also been named to take the team’s penalties," the source stated.
This move underscores the immense trust Coach Chelle has in the 26-year-old forward, whose influence on the team has been profound since the manager took charge in January 2025.
Osimhen's Pivotal Role in Super Eagles' Revival
The importance of Victor Osimhen to the Nigerian squad has been starkly evident. During his absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles struggled immensely, failing to secure a single victory. This poor run left the team languishing in fourth place in their qualifying group, putting their World Cup hopes in serious jeopardy.
His return to the squad in March 2025 marked an immediate turnaround. Osimhen scored a decisive brace in a crucial match against Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium. He followed this up with another goal in Uyo against Zimbabwe, helping to steady the ship for the three-time African champions.
Further proof of his indispensability came when Nigeria dropped points against South Africa's Bafana Bafana in his absence. The team needed a late equaliser from Calvin Bassey to salvage a draw after an own goal from William Troost-Ekong.
Osimhen returned with a vengeance for the final group game against the Benin Republic, scoring a spectacular hat-trick in a 4-0 victory that ultimately secured Nigeria a spot in the World Cup qualification playoffs. He continued his scoring form with a brace against Gabon in the playoff semifinal.
Overcoming Setbacks and Aiming for AFCON Glory
The Napoli legend's journey hasn't been without setbacks. He suffered an injury just before halftime in the playoff final against the Democratic Republic of Congo, a match Nigeria went on to lose 4-3. His absence was keenly felt, highlighting his role as the team's talisman.
Now, with the disappointment of missing a second consecutive World Cup behind them, Osimhen and the Super Eagles have shifted their full focus to continental glory at AFCON 2025. The striker has already apologised to Nigerian fans for the World Cup qualification failure and has vowed to fight alongside his teammates to make amends in Morocco.
His new role as penalty taker fills a void left by the retired Troost-Ekong, who was the primary taker during the 2023 AFCON where Nigeria finished as runners-up. Interestingly, Troost-Ekong was not on the pitch to take a penalty in the shootout loss to DR Congo last November, as Coach Chelle had substituted him before the spot-kicks commenced.
With his new leadership badge and goal-scoring duties confirmed, all eyes will be on Victor Osimhen as he leads Nigeria's attack against Tanzania, aiming to start the tournament on a winning note and propel the Super Eagles towards the title that narrowly eluded them two years ago.
