Galatasaray Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has declared his eagerness to return for Nigeria’s must-win 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March, as the Super Eagles look to revive their faltering campaign under new head coach Eric Chelle.
Osimhen, who missed the first four games due to injury, is Nigeria’s most prolific striker this season with 20 goals and five assists in 25 matches across all competitions for Galatasaray.
With the Super Eagles languishing in fifth place in their qualification group, the 26-year-old is determined to lead the charge and help his country avoid missing back-to-back World Cups.
Osimhen’s World Cup Dream
“You have to give everything; you know it’s a dream of every youngster to be at the World Cup. Mine is no exception,” Victor Osimhen said in a recent interview.
“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.”
Super Eagles in Danger – Must-Win Matches in March
After four games, Nigeria sits in fifth place with just three points, trailing group leaders Rwanda by four points with six matches left to play.
The upcoming qualifiers against Rwanda in Kigali (March 17) and Zimbabwe (March 24) are now crucial for Nigeria’s hopes of making it to the 2026 World Cup.
Two victories in March could reignite the Eagles’ qualification hopes, but anything less could spell disaster for their World Cup aspirations.
Osimhen on AFCON 2025: ‘African Football Can Be Full of Surprises’
Osimhen also weighed in on Nigeria’s 2025 AFCON group stage draw, which has placed them in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania for the tournament in Morocco (December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026).
“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,” Osimhen stated.
“We have a new coach, and I spoke with him a couple of times. 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.”
Super Eagles AFCON Group C Fixtures:
- December 23 – Nigeria vs. Tanzania (Fez Stadium, Fez)
- December 27 – Nigeria vs. Tunisia (Fez Stadium, Fez)
- December 30 – Nigeria vs. Uganda (Fez Stadium, Fez)
With a World Cup battle in March and an AFCON title chase in December, Osimhen’s return could be the spark Nigeria desperately needs.
