OSIMHEN CAN FORCE HIS WAY INTO EAGLES-PASCAL

Victor Osimhen can force his way into the Super Eagles first-team, says former Nigeria defender Patrick Pascal.

Osimhen, who scored 10 goals to help the Golden Eaglets win the Chile 2015 FIFA Unde-17 World Cup last month, has sparked a race for his signature among several European clubs since he declared his intention to play professional football abroad.

The 16-year-old Chile 2015 Golden Boot winner has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Real Madrid, Tottenham and German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

But Osimhen appears set to join Wolfsburg, who have reportedly assured him of first-team football when he turns 18.

The Wolves, who face Gent in the UEFA Champions League second round, had employed Ghana-Nigeria 2000 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist Jonathan Akpoborie for two years and on-form Seattle Sounders’ Obafemi Martins for just a season. Wolfsburg are currently seventh in the Bundesliga table.

And the Eagles’ Coordinator   Pascal, who is backing Osimhen to explode in Europe, insists the Senegal 2015 Under-23   Africa Cup of Nations winner has the quality to break into the senior national team.

The 1998 Carlsberg Cup winner, who was on the alternate list when the national Under-23 team won gold at   the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games, has likened Osimhen to the late Nigeria striker Rashidi Yekini.

Pascal, who helped Shooting Stars win silver in the 1996 CAF Champions League, believes Osimhen can fill Yekini’s shoes in the Eagles if he is signed by a European club having an experienced manager to nurture his prodigious talent.

“I watched Osimhen during the World Cup and the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations and he was fantastic,” the Bauchi-born told our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday.

“His movement and positioning was good. He plays with a lot of confidence and he is brave – like Yekini. Osimhen is a dangerous striker and I believe he can force his way into the Eagles to replace Yekini.”

The former Belgium-based player added, “Osimhen has a lot to offer. I pray he works under a manager who has a proven track record in nurturing young talents. If it doesn’t happen, it will be a problem.

“I’m happy Manuel Pellegrini has given Kelechi Iheanacho the opportunity to play first-team football at Manchester City.”

However, Pascal said the player shouldn’t be rushed into the Eagles, urging the national selectors to allow the teenager play in the youth teams for some time to enable him to develop his talent before being considered for a place in the Eagles.

He added, “We have Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa who are doing well. Osimhen can join them if he develops fast.”