Osimhen: 2026 World Cup Qualification Is Top Priority

Victor Osimhen Prioritizes 2026 World Cup Qualification for Nigeria

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has emphasized that securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the ultimate goal for the Nigerian national team, as they aim to avoid missing out on back-to-back editions of football’s biggest tournament.

Osimhen’s Determination to Qualify

The Galatasaray forward made his stance clear in an interview with BBC Sport Africa, stating:

“Playing at the World Cup is a priority and we must make it happen this time around.”

The 2023 African Footballer of the Year is eager to help Nigeria turn around their winless start in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, where they have drawn three of their first four matches.

“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 the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar remains a painful memory for Osimhen and his teammates, after the Super Eagles lost out to Ghana in the play-offs on away goals.

“We suffered a big disappointment in 2022, and we simply can’t let it happen again to us, the country, and our generation,” he added.

Crucial Matches Ahead for the Super Eagles

The Super Eagles currently sit four points behind Group C leaders Rwanda and face a critical double-header this month:

• March 21 – Away to Rwanda in Kigali
• March 25 – Home against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo

These matches will be the first real test for newly appointed Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who took over in January, becoming the first non-Nigerian African to lead the team.

Osimhen acknowledged the importance of the new manager’s role:

“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.”

Osimhen’s Confidence in Eric Chelle

Osimhen, who has scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances for Nigeria, has already spoken with Chelle, who previously led Mali to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023.

“I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and clearly understand the objectives he has set for himself and for the players.”

However, Osimhen stressed that winning matches is not just about the coach, adding:

“It takes more than a coach to win football matches. Players must also be at their best, show commitment, and bear in mind that we can all fly together to reach our goal.”

Nigeria’s Talented Generation Must Deliver

The 26-year-old striker believes that Nigeria’s golden generation, featuring fellow African Player of the Year winner Ademola Lookman, must prove their worth on the world 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.”

Osimhen also revealed how deeply missing out on Qatar 2022 affected him and his teammates:

“I was sad, like my teammates, to miss out on Qatar, and our fans didn’t even understand how much it affected us.”

World Cup Qualification Takes Priority Over AFCON 2025

While Nigeria is also preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where they have been drawn against Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, Osimhen insists that World Cup qualification is the primary focus.

“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.”

Nigeria’s Path to the 2026 World Cup

Only the group winners in the CAF qualifiers are guaranteed a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while second-placed teams will enter a continental play-off in November.

Despite Nigeria being the highest-ranked team in Group C and three-time African champions, Osimhen cautioned against complacency.

“Names no longer win matches. You must be ready and switched on for the duration of the games.”

Osimhen emphasized the responsibility of the players to make the nation proud:

• “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.”

 

With the 2026 World Cup set to be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Osimhen and the Super Eagles are determined to ensure that Nigeria returns to the global stage.