Victor Osimhen: Nigeria ‘desperate’ to reach 2026 Fifa World Cup

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.”