Victor Osimhen has opened up about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the setback as a painful experience for both himself and his Super Eagles teammates.
As the expanded 48-team World Cup continues across North America, Nigeria’s absence remains a major talking point among football fans, especially given Africa’s increased allocation of qualification slots for the tournament.
Despite having nine automatic places and an additional playoff spot available to African nations, the Super Eagles were unable to secure a ticket to the global showpiece after a disappointing qualification campaign.
Nigeria finished second in their qualifying group before seeing their hopes dashed in the continental playoffs, where they were eliminated by DR Congo.
The outcome means the three-time African champions will miss a second consecutive FIFA World Cup, extending a frustrating period for one of the continent’s most successful football nations.
Speaking during a recent social media livestream, Osimhen admitted that the disappointment remains difficult to accept, particularly for players who have yet to experience football’s biggest tournament.
“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” the Galatasaray striker said.
“We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving.”
Nigeria last appeared at the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018. Since then, the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for both the 2022 tournament in Qatar and the ongoing 2026 edition.
For Osimhen, widely regarded as one of Africa’s top forwards, the missed opportunity is especially significant. The 27-year-old has established himself as one of Europe’s elite strikers, yet he remains without a World Cup appearance in his international career.
With attention now shifting to future competitions, Nigerian football supporters will be hoping the Super Eagles can regroup, rebuild and end their World Cup drought before the next qualification cycle.
