- Osimhen is determined to help Nigeria qualify for the 2026 World Cup
- Eric Chelle in charge, the Super Eagles aim to correct past mistakes
- Osimhen prioritizes World Cup qualification over the upcoming AFCON
Victor Osimhen has stated that Nigeria will be fueled by desperation in this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they aim to avoid missing out on a second consecutive edition of the tournament.
The Super Eagles have made a difficult start in Group C, drawing three of their first four matches, with Osimhen sidelined due to injury.
The 26-year-old forward described the team’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup as a “heartbreaking disappointment” after their bitter rivals, Ghana, secured a play-off victory and progressed to Qatar 2022 instead of Nigeria.
“It’s every footballer’s dream to play in a World Cup, and given our current situation in the group, I’m desperate, just like my teammates, to make it to the 2026 tournament,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa.
“We faced a major setback in 2022, and we can’t allow it to happen again—not to us, not to the country, and not to our generation. You don’t want to end your career regretting not playing in a World Cup. I certainly don’t want that for myself.”
Nigeria are currently four points behind group leaders Rwanda and will travel to Kigali to face the Wasps on March 21 before hosting bottom side Zimbabwe four days later.
New head coach Eric Chelle needs immediate results in the six-team group. He’s the third coach to lead the Super Eagles in a campaign that began in November 2023. Under previous coach Jose Peseiro, Nigeria secured two draws, against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and his successor, Finidi George, left last June after a loss to Benin and a home draw with South Africa.
“With a new manager now, we are determined to fix the mistakes we’ve made and improve our position ahead of the Rwanda game,” Osimhen added.
The 2023 African Footballer of the Year, who has scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances for Nigeria, expressed his “extreme disappointment” at missing out on Qatar 2022.
He believes that with top players like Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Nantes’ Moses Simon, and Premier League regulars Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, and Alex Iwobi, Nigeria must secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
Since making their World Cup debut in 1994, Nigeria has only missed two editions of the tournament.
“People say we have a talented generation, but we can only prove that talent by playing in a World Cup, like those before us,” Osimhen said.
“Missing out on Qatar was heartbreaking for me, for my teammates, and for our fans, who didn’t fully understand how much it affected us. That’s why we must make sure to correct our past mistakes and give everything for our country, our new coach, and our chance to prove ourselves.”
Chelle’s appointment in January was met with mixed reactions, as he became the first non-Nigerian African to coach the Super Eagles. Osimhen is eager to work under Chelle, who led Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and to a rare victory over Nigeria last year.
“I’ve spoken to him a few times and I clearly understand the goals he has for both himself and the players,” Osimhen added. “It takes more than a coach to win matches; the players must also be at their best, show commitment, and remember that we are all in this together to reach our goal.”
Nigeria, who were runners-up in AFCON 2023, have been drawn with Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in the group stage for the 2025 edition of the tournament. After falling short of the title in Ivory Coast, Osimhen is hopeful of a better outcome in Morocco later this year.
“It won’t be easy, as African football is unpredictable. We saw how some big teams were eliminated early in Ivory Coast,” he said. “We need to take each game one step at a time and remember that we haven’t won anything yet for Nigeria. That should be the motivation to go further.”
However, Osimhen emphasized that the World Cup qualifiers must take precedence over AFCON, which will take place later in the year.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers will conclude before the AFCON 2025 kicks off on December 21, with the final four fixtures scheduled for September and October. Only group winners are guaranteed a spot in the finals, but Nigeria could enter the continental play-offs in November if they finish second.
As three-time African champions and the highest-ranked team in Group C, Osimhen warned against complacency.
“Names no longer win matches, and you must be prepared and focused for the entire game,” he said. “We’re playing for our country, for our families, and for the hopes of nearly 300 million people. It’s not the pressure, but the desire to not let ourselves or our country down.”
“Playing in the World Cup is a top priority, and we must make it happen this time.”
