How Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen turned a wasteful 90 minutes into a redemption masterclass against Gabon

Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen has opened up on his mentality after overcoming a frustrating 90-minute display to fire Nigeria to a decisive 4-1 victory over Gabon in the African World Cup Playoff semi-final.

Osimhen, who was wasteful in front of goal during regular time, exploded in extra time, scoring two goals that fired the Super Eagles past the Panthers and into the final round.

Speaking to Nigerian journalist Calister after the dramatic win, the 26-year-old striker detailed the immense pressure he felt and the promise he made to his teammates at the end of the second half.

Osimhen acknowledged that missing clear-cut opportunities is simply part of life as a forward, but insisted that accountability and focus are what define a true professional.

“I'm a professional player. I've been in the game for a long time and I've played against some kind of intimidating team where I missed some kind of opportunity, but just like you know, I'm a striker. Sometimes I score the goal that no one believes, and sometimes I lose the one that people think I'm going to score, but that doesn't take it away."

He stressed that his response to the misses was not to dwell on them, but to immediately seek correction.

"I always have this mentality. It doesn't matter if I miss some kind of opportunity, so long as the game keeps on going, I will try to make sure I correct it."

The Galatasaray star further revealed a moment of leadership at the end of regulation time, admitting he's human and felt the need to apologise to his colleagues for not finishing the game earlier.

"Just like I also said to my teammates, at first I told them I'm sorry, and I told them I'm going to correct it in the extra time, and I'm happy I did it.”

Osimhen's goals ultimately sealed the huge win, booking Nigeria's spot in the final against the Democratic Republic of Congo this Sunday. 

His ability to mentally reset after a poor 90 minutes and deliver when it mattered most is an evidence of his status not just as a prolific scorer, but as a critical leader in the Super Eagles squad.