Eagles must move forward, Osimhen on Mundial miss

Victor Osimhen, a key striker for the Nigerian national football team, has broken his silence on the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He urged teammates and the Nigerian public to move forward despite the "bad" disappointment of missing the global showpiece for a second successive time.

"It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys. We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving," Osimhen stated during a social media stream. The qualifying campaign, which saw Africa granted nine automatic slots for the expanded 48-team tournament, ended in heartbreak for Nigeria. They finished second in their group and were eliminated in the continental playoffs.

The team's struggles are widely blamed on administrative instability within the Nigeria Football Federation, which led to three different coaches overseeing the qualifying campaign. This lack of continuity disrupted the team's progress, despite boasting world-class players like Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman.

However, current coach Eric Chelle has instilled a clearer tactical identity and renewed purpose. This, combined with the experience of the current generation, fuels cautious optimism that the Super Eagles can end their World Cup absence for the next edition.

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It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys. We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving.