Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has expressed his disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the setback as painful for both himself and his teammates.
The 2026 World Cup, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, kicked off last week with nations from around the world competing for football’s biggest prize. Despite Africa receiving nine automatic qualification slots and an additional playoff place, Nigeria failed to secure a spot at the tournament.
The Super Eagles’ qualification campaign ended in disappointment after they finished second in their group and were subsequently knocked out by DR Congo in the continental playoffs.
Nigeria’s absence marks the country’s second consecutive failure to reach the World Cup, extending a difficult period for one of Africa’s most successful football nations.
Speaking during a recent livestream on social media, Osimhen admitted the disappointment remains hard to accept.
“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” he said. “We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving.”
Nigeria last appeared at the FIFA World Cup in 2018, meaning several members of the current Super Eagles squad, including Osimhen, have yet to feature on football’s biggest stage.
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