Nigeria ‘desperate’ to reach 2026 World Cup — Osimhen

Victor Osimhen says Nigeria will be driven by desperation in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month as they look to avoid missing out on a second successive edition of the finals.

The Super Eagles have made a winless start in Group C, drawing three of their first four games, with striker Osimhen absent through injury.

The West Africans endured what the 26-year-old described as a “heartbreaking disappointment” three years ago when fierce rivals Ghana progressed from a play-off and reached Qatar 2022 at their expense.

“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,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa.

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

“You don’t want to finish your career with the regrets of not playing at the World Cup. That is not what I want for myself.”

Nigeria are four points behind group leaders Rwanda and travel to Kigali to face the Wasps on 21 March before hosting bottom side Zimbabwe four days later.

The new man in the dugout, Eric Chelle, requires immediate results in the six-team group as he becomes the third coach to lead the Super Eagles in a campaign which began back in November 2023.

Jose Peseiro oversaw two draws, against minnows Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and his successor Finidi George departed last June after a defeat by Benin followed a home stalemate against South Africa.

“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 said.

Correcting previous ‘mistakes

Osimhen, the 2023 African Footballer of the Year who has scored 23 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 senior outings for Nigeria, was “extremely disappointed” after failing to make Qatar 2022.

He insists a squad packed full of top players including Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Nantes winger Moses Simon and Premier League regulars Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi must secure a place for next year’s global showpiece in Canada, Mexico and the USA.

Nigeria have only missed two editions of the tournament since making their debut in 1994.

“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 confided.

“I was sad, like my team-mates, 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 prove ourselves as being worthy.”

Chelle’s appointment in January prompted a mixed reaction after the 47-year-old Malian made history by becoming the first non-Nigerian African to assume the role of Super Eagles boss.

Osimhen is eager to start training under Chelle, who led his homeland to the quarter-finals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and to a rare victory over Nigeria last year.

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

“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.”

Dealing with ‘unpredictable’ African game

Nigeria, runners up at Afcon 2023, have been drawn alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in the group stage for the 2025 edition of the finals.

But after missing out on the title to hosts Ivory Coast last time around, Osimhen hopes it will be a different story in Morocco later this year.

“It’s not going to be easy because African football is unpredictable, we all saw how some big teams went out early in Ivory Coast,” he said.

“We must take each game as it comes and remember that we are yet to win anything for Nigeria. That should be the motivation we need to go one step better.

“But 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.”

The 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign will culminate before Afcon 2025 kicks off on 21 December, with the final four fixtures spread across September and October.

Only the group winners are assured of a place at the finals, but Nigeria could enter continental play-offs in November should they finish second.

The Super Eagles are three-time continental champions and the highest-ranked side in Group C, but Osimhen has warned against complacency.

“Names no longer win matches and you must be ready and switched on for the duration of the games,” he said.

“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.

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