Reactions from Nigerians after Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen landed early at the Super Eagles camp ahead of Nigeria's crucial 2026 WCQ against Rwanda and Zimbabwe
Galatasaray and Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is wasting no time proving to new Nigeria coach Eric Chelle that he's a man of his word.
Just days after Pulse Sports Nigeria reported that the new Super Eagles coach urged him and other senior stars to lead by example, the Galatasaray hat-trick king rolled into Nigeria's camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup Qualifier against Rwanda like a man on a mission.
The 26-year-old was among the first six players to hit the team's Radisson Blu Hotel in Kigali early Monday morning, and Nigerians can't stop talking about it.
The team's official update lit up social media: "Camp Update: All officials and the two players from Nigeria arrived in Kigali on Sunday night and were received by the Ambassador of Nigeria to Rwanda."
Alongside Osimhen, the early arrivals include Amas Obasogie, Tolu Arokodare, Kayode Bankole, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Papa Daniel.
But it's Osimhen's name that's got tongues wagging and keyboards clacking across the country.
Fresh off a scintillating hat-trick in Galatasaray's 4-0 demolition of Antalyaspor on Friday, Osimhen's swift arrival has left fans buzzing with a mix of shock, pride, and wild theories.
"Victor among the first to arrive? Omor this guy mean business oo," one fan posted on X, capturing the mood of a nation caught off guard.
Another chimed in, "Suprise to see Victor this early," while a third quipped, "Osihmen? This early?"
The consensus? Something big is brewing. Speculation is rife that Osimhen's punctuality might signal more than just dedication.
"Abi Chelle don promise Osimhen Captaincy?" one fan mused, noting that his Friday game gave him a head start over teammates who played over the weekend.
Another boldly predicted, "Victor Osimhen has gotten to Super Eagles camp in Rwanda. Ah. Eric Chelle will make him captain by God's grace immediately Ekong retires."
With current skipper William Troost-Ekong still in the mix, Osimhen's early move has fans dreaming of a future armband handover.
Osimhen's actions sync perfectly with Chelle's reported demand for leadership, and the striker seems eager to set the tone as Nigeria prepares to face Rwanda on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium.
After a rocky start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, sitting fifth in Group C with just three points from four games, the Super Eagles need a spark.
Could Osimhen's early arrival be the rallying cry that turns their fortunes around? Nigerians are watching, tweeting, and hoping that this hat-trick hero might just be the leader they've been waiting for.
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