Former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has expressed doubts over Victor Osimhen’s suitability for the Super Eagles captaincy, despite praising the striker’s impact on the national team.
Adepoju made the remarks amid ongoing discussions about who should permanently lead the team following the international exits of senior figures William Troost-Ekong and Ahmed Musa.
While Osimhen was widely considered one of the favourites for the role, head coach Eric Chelle eventually appointed Wilfred Ndidi as captain, with Osimhen and Moses Simon serving as vice-captains.
According to Adepoju, leadership goes beyond football talent and requires qualities such as emotional control, discipline, and the ability to unite teammates.
“Leadership requires more than talent. A captain must possess playing quality, leadership ability, emotional control, and the capacity to represent and unite the team,” he said.
The former midfielder cited Osimhen’s reported disagreement with teammate Ademola Lookman during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as an example of why he believes the striker still needs to improve in handling emotions on the pitch.
Adepoju stressed that disagreements between teammates should be resolved away from public view and not allowed to affect team harmony during matches.
Despite his concerns about Osimhen’s leadership credentials, the ex-international acknowledged the Galatasaray forward’s passion, commitment, and impressive record for Nigeria.
Since making his debut for the Super Eagles in 2017, Osimhen has established himself as one of the country’s most important players, scoring 35 goals in 46 appearances and moving within touching distance of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time national team scoring record.
The striker has also played key roles in Nigeria’s recent AFCON campaigns and remains one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers.
Source: The PUNCH Interview / Mutiu Adepoju.
