FIFA joined Nigerians and the rest of the world to celebrate Victor Osimhen after his crucial double for the Super Eagles in the WCQ against Rwanda in Kigali.
Nigeria’s masked marvel, Victor Osimhen, earned global applause after his match-winning brace against Rwanda in Kigali, and FIFA was quick to join the chorus of praise.
The Super Eagles’ talisman powered his team to a 2-0 victory, their first in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, lifting spirits and standings alike in a campaign that had been desperate for a spark.
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Following his heroics, FIFA took to social media to salute the Galatasaray striker, and Osimhen responded in kind, basking in the moment.
The breakthrough came early, just 11 minutes in, when reigning African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman delivered a sumptuous cross from the left.
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Osimhen, unmarked at the far post, met it with a clinical finish to give Eric Chelle’s side the lead.
The masked forward wasn’t done yet, right before halftime, he pounced on hesitant Rwandan defending, broke through, and delicately dinked the ball over goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari to double Nigeria’s advantage.
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The Super Eagles held firm in the second half, securing three crucial points that saw them climb to fourth in their qualifying group, now just two points shy of second place.
Rwanda, meanwhile, slipped to third, clinging to a one-point edge over their victorious visitors.
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FIFA wasted no time celebrating Osimhen’s impact. In a succinct yet striking post, the global football body shared the Nigerian flag, two ball emojis to signify his goals, and tagged the striker’s name.
It was a nod to the masked man’s growing legend, and Osimhen, ever the patriot, responded in the comments with green, white, and green heart emojis, a heartfelt salute to his nation and its fans.
For Nigeria, the win represented a turning point under Chelle’s leadership, with Osimhen’s return proving transformative after missing the opening four qualifiers.
His double not only clinched the victory but also etched his name deeper into Super Eagles lore, overtaking Segun Odegbami to become Nigeria’s second all-time top scorer.
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FIFA’s recognition was just the cherry on top for a player whose presence, masked or not, continues to light up the international stage.