Photo Credit - Nigeria Super Eagles.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana legend Shaun Bartlett has pinpointed what makes Victor Osimhen a world-class striker after his latest exploits for Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The former Charlton Athletic player said this after the Galatasaray FC centre-forward scored a double in the 2-0 win over Rwanda on Friday, March 20, 21, 2025.
“It's about stats. It's about scoring goals and being in the right position using his physicality. He can do it left and right,” Bartlett, now a pundit, told SuperSport Television.
The former Cape Town Spurs coach was reacting to SuperSport Television host Thomas Mlambo’s observation that Osimhen is not renowned for fancy ball work as African football legends such as Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew.
Another pundit Sudesh Singh echoed Bartlett’s remarks, saying Osimhen is deadly because of his runs on and off the ball.
“His movement in the box, as Mark Williams [ex-Bafana Bafana striker] used to say, in the kitchen. His movement is very intelligent. You can see Shaun had that and Mark had that too…how to move and how you arrive on the right spot,” Singh added.
Bartlett’s style was similar to Osimhen, very direct, his back to the goalposts and always lurking in the penalty box to pounce. The former Kaizer Chiefs player banged in 24 goals in 123 games for Charlton Athletics between 2001 and 2006 in the Premier League.
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