Ndidi: Chelle wants every Super Eagles player to be like Osimhen
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi revealed that coach Eric Chelle has set Victor Osimhen as the performance standard for the entire team. Osimhen has been outstanding at the 2025 AFCON, scoring four goals and providing two assists while putting constant pressure on opponents. He captained the side against Mozambique and in the semifinal loss to Morocco, but was substituted late in extra time due to an ankle injury and missed the penalty shootout.
Ndidi praised Osimhen as 'one of the best strikers in the world' and 'like three strikers in one,' calling him a dream player for any team. The captain noted that Chelle has made matching Osimhen's level a collective mission since his arrival.
Nigeria faces Egypt in the third-place playoff today (January 17, 2026) at 8pm WAT. With Osimhen's injury status uncertain and Ndidi having been suspended for the semifinal, will Nigeria's squad elevate collectively to meet Chelle's new standard, or will the absence of key players like Osimhen be too much to overcome?