“Hurts the pride” – 64-cap Nigerian striker bemoans Super Eagles World Cup absence

Former Super Eagles and Stoke City forward Peter Osaze Odemwingie has poured out his heart regarding Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Afrik Foot reports.

The 44-year-old represented the three-time AFCON Champions at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, respectively.

However, missing out on consecutive tournaments has elicited a cry of anguish from the former Lille forward, who believes a nation like Nigeria should be at every World Cup.

Odemwingie bemoans Super Eagles World Cup absence

The former West Bromwich Albion forward believes the Mundial holds a cultural value for the Nigerian child, and they shouldn’t be denied that feeling.

Even watching it, I am like a kid when it comes to football.

“I can get excited even about the bag that they will drop for us at AFCON camp and World Cup camp.

“World Cup kits and AFCON kits all this gets me excited. And when I saw the kits, I said Nike already had a design for our World Cup kit, and our lads would have worn this kit to play games in the World Cup.

“As someone who loves football, the child in me was sad, and I said, ‘Wow, our boys won’t wear these kits in the World Cup,” the Uzbek-born Nigerian said in an interview with Brila.

“A lot of people want to see Nigeria at the World Cup because there are always fast and physical players.

“It’s a sad one for football. I am sure if it was left for FIFA, they would change the rule to add ten more teams.

“They added more teams to the 2026 edition, and Nigeria won’t be part of it ,it hurts the pride.

“But there is nothing we can do about it; our boys will sit it out. This will rest in our minds for a very long time because our players are good,” Odemwingie concluded.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup out of the picture, Nigeria will play four games at the end of the club season.

They’ll be participating in the 2026 Unity Cup before taking on Poland and Portugal in June.