Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen speaks publicly for the first time about the Super Eagles missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the situation as disappointing for himself and his teammates. Multiple outlets report that Osimhen frames Nigeria’s absence as “bad” and says the setback has been difficult to process following the team’s failure to qualify.
The reports also note that the 2026 tournament features an expanded format, with 48 teams for the first time, and that several African nations are present at the competition. Daily Post Nigeria adds context on Nigeria’s broader pattern of absence, stating that the country has missed two consecutive tournaments since its last appearance in 2018 in Russia.
In commentary included by Daily Post Nigeria, former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr says the team’s start in the 2026 qualifying campaign was poor and laments Nigeria’s failure to reach the finals. He specifically highlights the absence of key attacking players such as Osimhen and teammate Ademola Lookman, aligning with the overall theme of regret and disappointment that runs through the coverage.
