Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has showered praise on Victor Osimhen, describing the Napoli striker as the “big boy” of the national team.

Mikel remarked while discussing Nigeria’s recent 4-0 victory over the Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where Osimhen netted a sensational hat-trick to keep the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes on track.

Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea star applauded the team’s determination amid recent controversies surrounding the Nigeria Football Federation.

“Our World Cup dream is still alive,” Mikel said. “I spoke about it before the two games — whatever is going on with the FA, all the negativity and corruption, those two games were must-win matches, and we did that.”

He reserved special praise for Osimhen’s leadership and performance, adding:

“Victor Osimhen has single-handedly kept us alive. In one of the biggest games, he came out and scored a hat-trick. When the pressure is on, the big boys step up, and that’s exactly what he did. He’s the big boy in that team right now, and we all need him.”

Osimhen’s brilliant performance not only sealed a convincing win but also reaffirmed his status as one of Africa’s top strikers. His form will be crucial as Nigeria prepares for the World Cup playoffs scheduled for November.