I wish I played with Osimhen — Ex-West Brom star regrets missing out on 'best striker in the world'

Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has expressed his admiration for Victor Osimhen following the striker's stellar performance against the Benin Republic, claiming he would have loved to share a pitch with the 26-year-old during his playing days.

Osimhen's brilliant hat-trick in the 4-0 thrashing of Benin sent the Super Eagles into the CAF World Cup playoffs, once again cementing his status as Nigeria's most important player, and earning him the title of best striker in the world by head coach Eric Chelle.

Udeze stated that Osimhen’s sharp movement and ruthless finishing would have been a dream for any defender capable of sending a long ball forward.

“I wish I played with Victor Osimhen,” Udeze said on SportyTV. “Why? Because I know how to feed a striker like him—I’d be collecting bonuses every week! Just put the ball there, and the rest would be history.

Players like him move like bulls; once they go, no defender can stop them.”

Osimhen's blistering form is evident at both club and country levels. Having secured a high-profile move to Galatasaray for a record fee this past summer, he has continued his goal-scoring heroics in Turkey.

For the national team, his hat-trick against Benin was not just crucial for qualification; it propelled him closer to Super Eagles immortality.

Osimhen now stands at 29 goals in 43 appearances for Nigeria, placing him just eight goals shy of matching the legendary Rashidi Yekini’s all-time record of 37 goals.