Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker currently on loan from Napoli, is eager to participate in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers under the leadership of new coach Eric Chelle.
The Super Eagles are aiming to revitalize their campaign in their upcoming matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. Osimhen, who has been in exceptional form this season, has scored 20 goals and provided five assists in 25 appearances across all competitions for his Turkish club.
Having missed the initial four games of the previous qualifying series due to injury, the 26-year-old is determined to help Nigeria secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup and avoid missing consecutive editions.
“You have to give everything; you know it’s a dream of every youngster to be at the World Cup. Mine is no exception. So for me, I want to be there just like every one of my teammates and we are really looking forward to the game against Rwanda and Zimbabwe to try and correct all the mistakes we have made in the past. So, we will be ready,” Osimhen stated.
He also addressed the group stage draw for the 2025 AFCON, where Nigeria will face Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in Morocco. “It’s not going to be easy, this is African football and you can get a lot of surprises but we will take each game as it comes.
We have a new coach and I spoke with him a couple of times and I know the kind of objectives he has set for the team and I am looking forward to the first training so we can feel his presence,” Osimhen added.
Following four matches, Nigeria currently sits in fifth place with only three points, trailing leaders Rwanda by four points, with six games remaining in the qualifying series. The March fixtures against Rwanda in Kigali and Zimbabwe are crucial for Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
Victories in these matches are expected to significantly improve their chances of reaching the World Cup. After the March games, the team will reconvene in September and October for their final four qualifying matches before focusing on their pursuit of a fourth AFCON title in December.
For the AFCON, Chelle’s Eagles will begin their journey against Tanzania on December 23, followed by matches against Tunisia and Uganda.
