Super Eagles ace, Victor Osimhen has stated that Nigeria will be fueled by desperation in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they aim to avoid missing out on a second consecutive finals.
The Super Eagles have started Group C without a win, drawing three of their first four games, while Osimhen has been sidelined due to injury. He described the experience three years ago as a “heartbreaking disappointment” when fierce rivals Ghana advanced to the Qatar 2022 World Cup at Nigeria’s expense.
“It’s a dream for every footballer to play in the World Cup, and given our current situation in the group, I’m desperate, like the other players, to qualify for the 2026 tournament,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa. “We suffered a significant disappointment in 2022, and we simply can’t allow that to happen again for our country and our generation. You don’t want to finish your career regretting that you never played in a World Cup, and that’s not what I want for myself.”
Nigeria currently sits four points behind group leaders Rwanda and will travel to Kigali to face the Wasps on March 21, followed by a home match against bottom-ranked Zimbabwe four days later.
“There’s a new manager now, and we are eagerly looking forward to the game against Rwanda to correct the mistakes we’ve made previously and improve our chances of qualifying,” Osimhen noted.
Osimhen, the 2023 African Footballer of the Year, who has scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances for Nigeria, expressed that he was “extremely disappointed” to have missed out on Qatar 2022. He believes that a squad filled with top players, including Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Nantes winger Moses Simon, and Premier League regulars Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, and Alex Iwobi, must earn a spot in next year’s global showcase in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
Since making their World Cup debut in 1994, Nigeria has only missed two tournaments. “People say we have a talented generation, but we can only prove this talent by participating in a World Cup like those before us,” Osimhen reflected. “I was saddened, like my teammates, to miss out on Qatar, and our fans didn’t fully understand how much it affected us.”
“This is why we must rectify our previous mistakes by giving everything for our country, our new coach, and demonstrating our worth.”
Chelle’s appointment in January received mixed reactions, as the 47-year-old Malian made history by becoming the first non-Nigerian African to lead the Super Eagles. Osimhen is looking forward to training under Chelle, who guided his national team to the quarter-finals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and achieved a notable victory over Nigeria last year.
“I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and have a clear understanding of the objectives he has set for himself and for the players,” the Galatasaray forward added. “Winning football matches takes more than just a coach; players must also perform at their best, show commitment, and remember that we can all come together to achieve our goal.”