Victor Osimhen has issued a rallying cry to his Super Eagles teammates, insisting they must approach the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with “desperation” to avoid another painful absence from football’s biggest stage.
The Napoli-owned striker, determined to erase the disappointment of missing Qatar 2022, believes only qualification will validate this current crop’s reputation as a “talented generation.”
Nigeria’s campaign has been anything but smooth, with a winless start leaving them four points behind Group C leaders Rwanda. The pressure is mounting ahead of their crucial fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, and managerial instability has only added to the turmoil. Eric Chelle, recently appointed, is now the third coach to take charge in this qualification cycle.
“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,” he told BBC Africa
“I was sad, like my teammates, to miss out on Qatar, and our fans didn’t even understand how much it affected us. This is why we must correct the previous mistakes by giving everything to our country, our new coach, and proving ourselves worthy.”
How has Victor Osimhen performed in 2026 WCQ so far?
Osimhen has yet to feature in this qualification cycle due to injury, and in his absence, Nigeria have lacked potency in attack.
The 2023 African Footballer of the Year boasts an impressive international record, 23 goals and 11 assists in 39 caps.
Under Jose Peseiro, the Super Eagles were held to draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Finidi George then oversaw a disappointing loss to Benin and a home draw with South Africa before his departure.
Osimhen's return is viewed as crucial to reviving Nigeria’s campaign. With key players like Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, and Alex Iwobi alongside him, the Super Eagles must rise to the occasion.
Anything less than six points from their clashes against Rwanda in Kigali on 21 March and Zimbabwe at home four days later could spell disaster for their World Cup hopes.
