National Teams
Osimhen rallies teammates, says “bigger failures” responsible for Nigeria’s World Cup miss
By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen delivered an emotional rallying cry to his teammates in Rabat following Nigeria’s heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to the DR Congo—a loss that confirmed the nation’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Inside a tense and subdued dressing room, Osimhen reportedly rose to address the squad, commending their collective effort throughout a turbulent qualifying campaign.
According to team insiders, the Napoli forward urged the players to remain proud of their resilience, noting that their drive helped restore hope for millions of Nigerians even when qualification seemed all but lost.
But Osimhen’s message extended well beyond consolation as he strongly rejected any narrative placing blame on the players or the coaching staff for the World Cup failure, insisting that deeper structural shortcomings were responsible for Nigeria’s setback.
“Osimhen said clearly that neither the players nor the coaches are at fault,” one team source disclosed.
“He emphasised that Nigerians know where the real responsibility lies. According to him, the right decisions simply weren’t taken at the right moments.”
Witnesses described his remarks as bold, emotional and fiercely protective—an effort to shield the squad from public criticism while pushing football authorities and key stakeholders to confront the systemic failures that contributed to Nigeria missing a second consecutive World Cup.
Osimhen’s words have since echoed throughout the Nigerian football community, reinforcing his growing stature as a leader capable of influence both on and off the pitch.
