Troost-Ekong Reacts to Osimhen’s Big Miss vs Gabon, Praises His Mental Strength After Extra-Time Heroics

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has opened up on Victor Osimhen’s dramatic night during Nigeria’s 4–1 playoff victory against Gabon – a match that swung from frustration to triumph in unforgettable fashion.

Osimhen had a golden opportunity to seal the win in the dying minutes of regulation time after a brilliant through pass from Wilfred Ndidi left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper. But to the shock of many, the normally clinical striker failed to convert, sending the game into extra time.

Despite the miss, the 26-year-old striker redeemed himself spectacularly, scoring twice in extra time to send Nigeria into the final of the 2026 World Cup playoffs.

Speaking to ESPN Africa, Troost-Ekong revealed how the team rallied around the striker at the end of 90 minutes.

“When I saw him running at the goalkeeper, I was sure he was going to score,” the Super Eagles captain said.
“But after that, we tried to encourage him and make sure he wasn’t disheartened.”

Winger Samuel Chukwueze also weighed in on the moment, insisting that Osimhen’s quality was never in doubt.

“It’s football — sometimes it happens. Everybody knows he can score that kind of goal. And he gave us two goals… it’s fantastic.”

Opinion: The Miss That Made the Man — Why Osimhen’s Response Says More Than the Error

Osimhen’s late miss was one of those moments that could have shattered a player’s confidence. The stakes were enormous, the clock was ticking, and the hopes of over 200 million Nigerians seemed to rest on that one strike.

But what happened next is exactly why Victor Osimhen is different.

Instead of shrinking, he rose.
Instead of sulking, he showed up.
Instead of breaking, he burned brighter.

Many strikers would have carried that miss like a heavy stone into extra time. Osimhen turned it into fuel — scoring twice, pressing relentlessly, and proving yet again that he is the emotional engine of this team.

Equally impressive was the leadership shown around him. Troost-Ekong’s calm reassurance, Chukwueze’s belief, and the team’s unity created a psychological cushion that allowed Osimhen to reset mentally.

This is what a real team looks like — one that knows how to lift its stars instead of tearing them down.

If Nigeria can take this mentality into the final against DR Congo, then the Super Eagles won’t just be chasing a ticket to the World Cup — they will be carrying momentum, maturity, and a brotherhood strong enough to take them there.