‘That’s why they pay any amount to get him’ - Ex-Nigeria player praises Osimhen after hat trick against Benin

Osimhen was instrumental in Nigeria's crucial World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, scoring a hat-trick to lead the Super Eagles to a dominant 4-0 victory over the Cheetahs in Uyo. 

The win secured Nigeria's place in the final playoff round, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament alive.

The performance was a significant moment for Nigerian football, especially after the team failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, losing to Ghana on away goals.

Speaking on a SuperSport broadcast, Akpeyi praised Osimhen's ability to deliver under pressure. "Whether you like it or not, in every team there is that superstar that you have, which is Victor Osimhen, who has lived up to expectations," he said.

"It shows the reason Galatasaray can pay any amount of money to retain him there."

Akpeyi also acknowledged the team's difficult start to the campaign, "The slow start made the Super Eagles struggle, and I agree with my senior brother Victor Ikpeba that we struggled from the start," he noted.

Galatasaray made a record-breaking move for the former African Footballer of the Year in July 2025, paying Napoli €75 million—the highest transfer fee ever paid by a Turkish club.

Despite missing several games, Osimhen finished the qualifying group stage as one of its top scorers, behind only seven other players, including Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Algeria's Mohamed Amoura.