Victor Osimhen has spoken for the first time about Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that the disappointment has been difficult for him and his Super Eagles teammates.
The expanded 2026 tournament, featuring 48 teams for the first time, began last week with countries from around the world competing for football’s biggest prize.
Nigeria, however, is missing from the competition despite Africa having nine automatic qualification slots and an additional playoff place.
The Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the tournament ended after finishing second in their qualifying group before losing to DR Congo in the continental playoffs.
The outcome means Nigeria will miss a second consecutive World Cup, extending a disappointing spell for one of Africa’s most successful football nations.
Speaking during a recent social media livestream, Osimhen expressed his frustration over the setback.
“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” Osimhen stated. “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, leaving several members of the current squad, including Osimhen, yet to feature at football’s biggest tournament.