World Cup 2026: ‘It’s Bad’ — Osimhen On Nigeria’s Absence

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has described Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as painful, admitting that missing the tournament is a major disappointment for him and his teammates.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup began last week, with several African countries including Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tunisia, South Africa and Algeria representing the continent.

Nigeria, however, failed to secure qualification after losing the World Cup playoff encounter against DR Congo, extending the country’s absence from football’s biggest international stage.

Speaking during a recent social media stream, Osimhen said the situation was disappointing, not only for him but also for other members of the national team.

“It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” the Galatasaray forward said.

The striker noted that missing out on consecutive World Cup tournaments has been difficult but urged himself and his teammates to remain focused despite the setback.

“We have missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving,” he added.

Nigeria also failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after losing the playoff tie against Ghana, making the 2026 qualification failure the second consecutive time the Super Eagles have missed the global tournament.

Osimhen, who has been one of Nigeria’s most important attacking players in recent years, played a key role in the qualification campaign but could not help the team secure a place in the tournament.

The absence of the three-time African champions has generated widespread disappointment among fans, analysts and former players, who have continued to call for reforms within Nigerian football.

Despite the setback, Osimhen maintained that the team must continue working and look ahead to future competitions.