Nigeria’s path to the 2026 World Cup playoffs was riddled with challenges, yet two standout players emerged as pillars of strength.
Calvin Bassey, the tenacious defender from Fulham, and Victor Osimhen, the prolific striker representing Galatasaray, were instrumental in steering the Super Eagles through the qualifiers.
FIFA’s statistics highlight Bassey as Nigeria’s most reliable outfield player throughout the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Displaying unwavering consistency and stamina, Bassey was the sole Nigerian outfield player to clock every minute across all ten qualifying matches.
The Super Eagles’ campaign, spanning five home and five away games, yielded a mixed record: four victories, five stalemates, and a solitary defeat-a tough 2-1 loss to Benin Republic.
Despite a shaky start, Nigeria’s late resurgence secured them a place in the continental playoffs, although South Africa claimed the only automatic qualification spot from Group C.
Throughout the qualifiers, Bassey’s steadfast presence was a beacon of stability amid Nigeria’s fluctuating form. FIFA data reveals he was among a select group of just ten African outfield players to participate in every minute of their national team’s qualifying fixtures, joining elite company such as Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Congo’s Chancel Mbemba, and Tunisia’s Montassar Talbi.
Having once been eligible to represent Italy or England, Bassey has cemented his importance to Nigeria since pledging allegiance in 2022.
Beyond his defensive duties, the 24-year-old also made his mark offensively, netting his first international goal with a powerful header in a pivotal 1-1 draw against South Africa in September.
Defensively, Nigeria managed just three clean sheets and conceded eight goals, figures that reflect broader team inconsistencies rather than any individual lapse on Bassey’s part.
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Victor Osimhen: Nigeria’s lethal goal-scoring force
While Bassey anchored the defense, Victor Osimhen spearheaded Nigeria’s attack with remarkable efficiency. Despite being limited to five appearances due to injuries, the Galatasaray forward emerged as the team’s leading scorer, netting six goals.
Osimhen’s goal tally not only crowned him Nigeria’s top marksman but also made him the highest scorer in Group C, surpassing Benin Republic’s captain Steve Mounié, who scored five goals.
The stark contrast in scoring contributions is notable: no other Nigerian player scored more than once during the qualifiers. This imbalance has been highlighted by a member of Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, as reported by Soccernet.ng.
This reliance underscores Nigeria’s dependence on Osimhen’s pace, strength, and clinical finishing. Players like Akor Adams, Semi Ajayi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru each contributed a single goal, but none matched the former Napoli star’s impact.
With six goals in this campaign, Osimhen’s international tally now stands at 29 goals in 44 caps, inching him closer to the legendary Rashidi Yekini’s Nigerian record of 37 goals-a milestone that could define his legacy in the national team.
Across Africa, only a few players outscored Osimhen during the qualifiers, including Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura with 10 goals, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah with 9, and Gabon’s Denis Bouanga with 8. Considering Osimhen missed half of Nigeria’s matches, his scoring rate remains exceptional.
Meanwhile, Morocco extended their dominance in African World Cup qualifiers, maintaining an unbeaten streak of 22 games. However, they still trail Nigeria’s record 35-match unbeaten run set between 2004 and 2017.
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