'Galatasaray can pay any amount' - Akpeyi insists Osimhen is a true superstar after heroics v Benin

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has hailed Victor Osimhen as a true superstar following the striker's imperious display against the Cheetahs during a World Cup qualifier in Uyo on Tuesday, insisting that his brilliance justifies Galatasaray's willingness to spend any amount to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.

The Turkish champions completed a record-breaking move for the former African Footballer of the Year in July 2025, paying €75 million to Napoli as part of the transfer agreement, the highest fee ever paid by a Turkish club.

Against Gernot Rohr's Benin side, Osimhen once again rose to the occasion, netting his third hat-trick in Nigeria colours to inspire the Super Eagles to a commanding 4-0 victory. 

The result saw Nigeria clinch the final playoff spot in the World Cup qualifiers, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament.

The performance came as a welcome relief for Nigerian fans after the heartbreak of missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the Super Eagles were edged out by Ghana's Black Stars on the away goals rule. 

A repeat scenario was narrowly avoided this time, with Frank Onyeka's late goal sealing Nigeria's qualification for the playoff stage.

Osimhen's influence was particularly evident given Nigeria's earlier struggles in the qualifying campaign. 

Without their talismanic forward, who missed the first four games through injury, the Super Eagles managed only three points from a possible twelve, drawing three matches and losing once.

"The slow start made the Super Eagles struggle and I agree totally with my senior brother Victor Ikpeba that we struggled from the start," Daniel Akpeyi said during a SuperSport broadcast monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com.

"Since Eric Chelle came in they've been a lot of changes and the players are stepping up.

"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.

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

Only seven players — Mohamed Amoura (Algeria), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Denis Bouanga (Gabon), Kamory Doumbia (Mali), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Jordan Ayew (Ghana) and Musa Barrow (Gambia) — scored more goals than Osimhen during the World Cup qualifiers. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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