- Osimhen Speaks on Nigeria’s Failure to Qualify for 2026 World Cup
- Super Eagles missed the World Cup for a second time.
- Striker urged teammates to move forward and stay focused.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has spoken about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the disappointment as a painful experience for both him and his teammates.
The forward made the remarks during a recent social media livestream, marking his first public comments on the national team’s absence from the tournament.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expanded to 48 teams for the first time in the competition’s history, began last week with nations from around the world competing for football’s biggest prize.
Despite Africa receiving nine automatic qualification places and an additional playoff slot, Nigeria failed to secure a place at the tournament, extending the country’s absence from the global showpiece.
Reacting to the setback, Osimhen admitted that missing out on the World Cup for a second consecutive edition has been difficult for the players.
“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” Osimhen stated.
“We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving.”
The striker’s comments echo the frustration felt by many Nigerian football supporters who had hoped to see the Super Eagles return to the World Cup after failing to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup ended after the Super Eagles finished second in their qualification group. Their campaign came to a close following a playoff defeat to DR Congo, confirming their absence from the expanded competition.
The latest setback means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive edition, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament.
The Super Eagles last appeared at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 in Russia, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Nigeria’s continued absence from football’s biggest tournament has also denied several members of the current squad the opportunity to feature on the world stage.
Osimhen, widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading forwards, remains among the players yet to represent Nigeria at a senior FIFA World Cup.
While acknowledging the disappointment, the striker insisted that the team must remain focused on the future and continue working towards upcoming international assignments.
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