LeBron James, the greatest basketball player ever, said “when your shots are not falling, look for other ways to affect the game. Do anything to get the W,”
And by “W” he meant meant win.
Watching VO9 at this Nation’s cup, the quote come to mind. Osimhen has scored the most difficult headers with a jump and hangtime far far greater than the Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus FC while playing for Napoli. He has taken shots with both feet that weren’t even chances but found the net.
So watching osimhen rise in the air and miss goals with headers and have his strikes saved by goalies, I shake my head ruefully b’coz this happens to all strikers, but it’s happening to Osimhen at the worst possible time.
Yes! No striker goes into every competition red-hot
Both Ronaldo and Messi have come from great seasons with their club and found it difficult to score for National team. Even in clubs, every striker has hot moments where if the ball hit your YANSH, it’ll still be goal, while at other times, you will kick nonsense on empty post, or have your goals ruled out for offside or with a penalty on the other side.
But even with Osimhen’s lack of goals, he is still arguably the best player of the competition. His ability to suck defenders into fouling him have given Nigeria critical penalties. His high press has led some goals when defenders concentrate on him and free up Ademola Lookman to do damage
I can’t forget what Stephen Keshi told Ike Uche and why he was benching who we felt was our best player. Keshi said “I no dey for player wey dey do gimme ball make I shine. if you no go fight and run for your team, you no go play”.
No coach, fan or press can accuse Osimhen of not trying. We haven’t had such a hardworking forward not even “Amo taxi..The Bull” Daniel Amokachi .
You see Osimhen, ihm ready to die for the team.
Seeing Nwabali that may be earning 1/200 of what Osimhen earns per week, lift Osimhen and VO9 is playing with every teammate like he has not just won the African Player of the year, he runs and not deferring to his team captain, William Troost-Ekong
Almost everything consequential has had VO9’s name, even when opponents score own goals. the fear of Osimhen will not let you allow the ball go past you because Osimhen is there to finish it up.
When your biggest player, best player and richest player, runs and fights, your team will be in the final
Osimhen’s shots may not be falling. His luck obviously stalling. But still, the team star is balling.