Former Nigeria international Tijani Babangida has cautioned Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle against building the squad too heavily around star forward Victor Osimhen as preparations continue for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Babangida raised concerns about Nigeria’s growing dependence on the Galatasaray striker, especially after the team struggled when Osimhen was substituted at halftime during the 2026 World Cup play-off loss to DR Congo.

“It is risky for the Super Eagles to be structured around Victor Osimhen. The moment he was taken off early in the second half against Congo, the team immediately lost momentum. That is not a good sign,” Babangida said in an interview with Tribal Football.

The former winger noted that during his playing days, the national team was never centred on one individual, and he urged Chelle to correct this trend before the tournament begins.

“In my time, we never relied on a single player. Many people have noticed that today’s Super Eagles depend too much on Osimhen. This is something Eric Chelle must fix if the team wants to contend for the AFCON title,” he said.

He added that the coach must instill the mindset that every player, especially the attackers, carries responsibility and should be ready to step up whenever selected.

“We need Osimhen fully fit, but we also need a team of players who are mentally prepared to win with or without him. Team morale should not drop because one player is absent,” he added.

Babangida stressed that injuries are part of football, and Nigeria must avoid collapsing whenever Osimhen is unavailable.

“Super Eagles should not fall apart if Osimhen gets injured. His absence in any match should not feel like a disaster. Chelle needs to address this urgently,” he said.

Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia as they pursue a fourth AFCON trophy.