Victor Osimhen has broken his silence on Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting the disappointment has weighed heavily on him and his Super Eagles teammates.
The expanded tournament, featuring 48 teams for the first time in history, kicked off last week with nations from across the globe in action. Nigeria, however, is missing from the action despite Africa being handed nine automatic qualification slots plus an extra playoff spot.
The Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes were dashed after they finished second in their qualifying group, then suffered playoff elimination at the hands of DR Congo. The defeat means Nigeria will sit out the World Cup for a second straight cycle, prolonging a difficult stretch for one of Africa’s most storied football nations.
Speaking on a recent livestream, Osimhen didn’t mask his frustration over the missed chance to play on the world’s biggest stage.
“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” he said. “We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving.”
Nigeria’s last World Cup appearance came in 2018, meaning Osimhen and several of his current teammates are still chasing their first taste of the tournament.
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