Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has expressed his disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the situation as painful for both him and his teammates.
The 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted across North America, officially kicked off last week with a record 48 nations participating. However, Nigeria is missing from the tournament despite Africa receiving more qualification slots than ever before.
The Super Eagles saw their World Cup dream slip away after finishing behind rivals in the qualification race before suffering elimination in the playoff stage, leading to a second straight absence from football’s biggest competition.
Speaking during a recent social media livestream, Osimhen admitted that missing out on the World Cup remains a difficult reality for the squad.
According to the Napoli forward, the disappointment is not his alone but one shared by every player who had hoped to represent Nigeria on the global stage.
“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys. We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving,” Osimhen said.
Nigeria last appeared at the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018, meaning several stars of the current generation, including Osimhen, have never played at the tournament.
Despite the setback, the striker remains focused on the future as the Super Eagles look to rebuild and ensure they return to the biggest stage in world football.
Source: Social Media Livestream (Victor Osimhen).
