'I have watched it 10 times' - Osimhen reveals what he told Semi Ajayi in Yoruba before acrobatic goal v Benin 

Victor Osimhen scored arguably the pick of the goals during Nigeria's 3-0 rout of Republic of Benin in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday evening. 

Heading into the game against the Cheetahs, most of the pre-match talk centered around whether interim Nigeria boss Augustine Eguavoen was going to give minutes to Osimhen, considering the fact that he had not played for club and country since coming off the bench against Lecce on the final day of the 2023-2024 season.

Prior to completing a transfer to Galatasaray last week, the reigning African Footballer of the Year was frozen out of the Napoli squad because he had made it clear his time at the Diego Maradona Stadium was up.

Despite lacking match fitness, Osimhen needed less than six minutes to open his goalscoring account for the season after coming off the bench to replace Bayer Leverkusen marksman Victor Boniface. 

The 25-year-old struck with clinical precision on the half volley after a deflected pass from Wilfred Ndidi in the 78th minute.

Osimhen has revealed that his sensational goal was a routine the players tested out in training leading up to the clash against Benin and also highlighted that he communicated with Semi Ajayi in Yoruba, urging the central defender to leave the ball for him.. 

Speaking to Counter Attack Podcast on Saturday evening, Osimhen stated: "I have watched it close to like ten times. The last training before the game, me, Aina, Awoniyi and Wilfred, we were doing this same practice, we did it more than ten times to be able to just do the cross inside the penalty box.

"For sure you will be present there as a striker. When he did the cross, Semi was also going towards the ball. 

"If he hits it, he can score or maybe the goalkeeper parries it, I saw that I had a clear chance than him.  I told him in Yoruba, Filẹ, Filẹ, meaning leave it so he understood what I meant, and then he left it.

"I was just focusing on the ball as I was speaking to him. The moment he left the ball and the ball was coming towards me I just had to like smash it.

"The moment I put it on the floor, bounced on the ground, the goalkeeper had no chance."

Osimhen is thrilled that Nigeria have returned to winning ways after a three-game winless streak, which included losses to Mali and Benin, as well as a draw against South Africa.

"It was really a big game for us, it was a statement win because our performance has been so low in the past couple of games, compared to the talent that we have got in the team.

"Today's game, everyone can see in our eyes, the way we played that we were really hungry for the win. 

"We were searching for the win to make sure we get the win. The last time we met our opponents they defeated us so it was also like a revenge and I'm happy we gave our all and got the three points."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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