Victor Osimhen Opens Up on Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification Heartbreak

Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has admitted that the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains a painful experience, describing the disappointment of missing football’s biggest tournament as difficult to overcome.

The Super Eagles fell short in their quest to qualify for the tournament, which is taking place in United States, Canada, and Mexico, after failing to secure automatic qualification from a group that included South Africa and Benin Republic.

Nigeria’s hopes were briefly revived through the playoff route. After overcoming Gabon, the Super Eagles’ dream of reaching the World Cup came to an end following a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo.

With the global showpiece off and running, the absence of Nigeria remains one of the biggest disappointments for the country’s football community, with Osimhen acknowledging that the players are still coming to terms with the setback.

Speaking in comments shared on social media, the Galatasaray striker revealed that he and his teammates are united in their frustration at missing a second consecutive FIFA World Cup.

“I feel bad not playing at the World Cup. This is the second time in a row. I was talking with the other guys and they feel the same way, but we move,” Osimhen said.

The 27-year-old forward has been one of Nigeria’s standout performers in recent years and remains a central figure in the national team’s ambitions.

Despite the disappointment, Osimhen is expected to play a leading role as the Super Eagles look to rebuild and refocus on future international competitions, with the aim of ensuring Nigeria returns to the global stage at the next opportunity.

His comments reflect the determination within the squad to learn from recent setbacks and begin laying the foundation for a stronger and more successful future for Nigerian football.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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