Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has broken his silence on missing the FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive time. Nigeria missed the big party at Qatar 2022 and the ongoing World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Super Eagles could not qualify from a group featuring South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and the Benin Republic.
Nigeria had another opportunity through the playoffs. However, after their opening game victory over Gabon, they lost the final chance to DR Congo in a penalty shootout. Many Nigerians have called for the resignation of top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials over the two missed World Cup tickets, while some football analysts believe it might take a miracle for players like Osimhen to play at the World Cup even if Nigeria qualifies for the 2030 edition.
The reality seems to have finally dawned on the Galatasaray striker, who has now expressed his regrets that Nigeria failed to make it to the 2026 World Cup. In a social media livestream yesterday, the former Napoli striker lamented the country’s inability to reach the tournament and revealed that his Super Eagles teammates are also gutted by Nigeria’s absence.
“I feel bad not playing at the World Cup… this is the second time in a row. I was talking with the other guys, and they feel the same way, but we move,” Osimhen said.
Osimhen is one of many players in the current Super Eagles squad who may never feature in the World Cup. Of the current Nigerian stars, only Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Kelechi Iheanacho have experienced the Mundial, having participated in the 2018 edition. The other players, who are almost 30 years old, may not be at the top level when the championship comes around again in 2030.
Meanwhile, FIFA has reported that the ongoing tournament has made an extraordinary start on and off the pitch, with opening matches involving the three host nations delivering record-breaking audiences across North America. More than one million fans have already experienced the FIFA World Cup live inside stadiums, while television audiences have reached unprecedented heights. Over 54 million viewers tuned in to watch the opening matches featuring Canada, Mexico, and the United States, highlighting the tournament’s ability to unite audiences across North America.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “What we are witnessing here is truly historic. The United States’ opening match against Paraguay was the most-watched FIFA World Cup match ever broadcast in the United States, while more than 54 million people across Canada, Mexico, and the United States watched their respective nations’ opening matches, shattering records and showing how football is truly uniting the world.”
“These figures tell you everything about what this tournament means to these countries, this continent, and the entire world. However, this is not just about numbers – this is about millions of people from every corner of the world, coming together through football. The atmosphere, energy, and passion I feel in these host countries is something incredibly special. The fans inside full stadiums, those watching at home, and some celebrating in the streets are all part of something unique.”
The record audiences provide further evidence of the extraordinary engagement generated by the FIFA World Cup 2026, with supporters across the three host nations embracing a tournament that is already making history both inside and outside the stadiums.
