Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has emphasized that qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is a top priority for the Nigerian national team. The Galatasaray forward expressed his desperation to help Nigeria recover from their winless start in Group C of the qualifiers.
“Playing at the World Cup is a priority, and we must make it happen this time around,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa. “It’s a dream of every footballer to play at the World Cup, and with our situation in the group, I am desperate, like other players, to make it to the 2026 tournament.”
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for Qatar 2022 after losing to Ghana in the play-offs still lingers, and Osimhen acknowledged the disappointment. “We suffered a big disappointment in 2022, and we simply can’t let it happen again to us, the country, and our generation.”
The Super Eagles currently sit four points behind group leaders Rwanda and face a crucial double-header this month. They will travel to Kigali to face Rwanda on March 21 before hosting bottom side Zimbabwe four days later at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Newly appointed coach Eric Chelle will be under immediate pressure to deliver results in these fixtures. “There’s a new manager now, and we are desperately looking forward to the game against Rwanda to try to correct all the previous mistakes we’ve made and put ourselves in a better position to qualify,” said Osimhen.
Osimhen expressed optimism about working with Chelle, who led Mali to the quarter-finals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. “I’ve spoken to him a couple of times, and clearly understand the objectives he has set for himself and for the players.”
The 26-year-old striker emphasized the importance of Nigeria’s talented generation making their mark on the global stage. “People say we have a talented generation, but we can only confirm this talent when we play in a World Cup like those before us.”
While Nigeria is also preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Osimhen insisted that the World Cup qualifiers take precedence. “We cannot focus too much on a tournament that will happen at the end of the year when we have big demands of the World Cup before that. We first take care of that business.”
Only the winners of each qualifying group are guaranteed a place at the 2026 World Cup, although Nigeria could still enter continental play-offs in November should they finish second in their group. Despite being three-time African champions and the highest-ranked side in Group C, Osimhen cautioned against complacency.
“Names no longer win matches, and you must be ready and switched on for the duration of the games. We will be playing for our country, our family names, and the hopes of almost 300 million people. It is not the pressure that we face, but the desire to not let ourselves and the country down.”