Victor Osimhen says Nigeria must avoid another heartbreak in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month, as the Super Eagles fight to keep their hopes alive after a poor start.
Nigeria face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in must-win encounters after failing to secure a victory in their first four games of the qualifiers. They currently sit fifth in a six-team group with three points—four behind leaders Rwanda, South Africa, and Benin Republic.
In an interview with BBC Sport Africa, Osimhen, who was part of the Eagles squad that failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said he was as desperate as every other player to be at the tournament.
“It’s a dream of every footballer to play at the World Cup, and with our situation in the group, I am desperate, like other players, to make it to the 2026 tournament,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa.
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The 2023 African Footballer of the Year missed Nigeria’s first four qualifiers due to injury, watching from the sidelines as the team managed just three draws in Group C. That slow start has left the Super Eagles four points behind Rwanda, with crucial matches against the Wasps in Kigali on March 21 and Zimbabwe in Nigeria four days later.
“We suffered a big disappointment in 2022, and we simply can’t let it happen again—to us, the country, and our generation,” Osimhen said. “You don’t want to finish your career with the regret of not playing at the World Cup. That is not what I want for myself.”
Osimhen was part of the squad that failed to qualify for the last World Cup, missing out to Ghana in the playoffs on away goals. That setback, he says, is still fresh in his mind.
“I was sad, like my teammates, to miss out on Qatar, and our fans didn’t even understand how much it affected us,” he said. “This is why we must correct the previous mistakes by giving everything to our country, our new coach, and proving ourselves worthy.”
The Super Eagles have had three coaches since their qualifying campaign began in November 2023, with Mali’s Eric Chelle now in charge. Osimhen is optimistic about working under the new boss.
“There’s a new manager now, and we are desperately looking forward to the game against Rwanda to try to correct all the previous mistakes we’ve made and put ourselves in a better position to qualify,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and clearly understand the objectives he has set for himself and for the players,” he added. “It takes more than a coach to win football matches. Players must also be at their best, show commitment, and bear in mind that we can all fly together to reach our goal.”
Osimhen believes the Super Eagles’ current squad, filled with top talents like Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, and Alex Iwobi, has no excuse for missing out on the next World Cup.
“People say we have a talented generation, but we can only confirm this talent when we play in a World Cup like those before us,” he said.
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