This Article Was Last Updated: July 5, 2026 by Oseg Hale
Victor Osimhen has expressed disappointment after Nigeria failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive tournament, SuperEaglesNG reports.
He said the Super Eagles, including himself and teammates in the national squad, are deeply affected by the absence following defeats in qualification and the play-offs, where they lost to DR Congo on penalties after beating Gabon.
He made the comments during a live-streamed session on social media, where he spoke directly to fans.
Many Nigerians have criticised football administrators, with calls for reform after repeated failures to reach major tournaments.
Only a few current players, such as Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, have previous World Cup experience from 2018.
Gianni Infantino highlighted record-breaking global audiences for the ongoing tournament across North America, reflecting football’s growing worldwide appeal.
More than one million fans attended matches in stadiums, while over 54 million viewers watched opening games across the host nations.
Osimhen admitted the situation is painful but said the team must move forward.
