Speaking on a social media livestream, Osimhen addressed the absence for the first time publicly. “It’s bad, not just for me but for the rest of the guys,” he said. “We’ve missed out twice in a row. Sometimes life happens, so we just have to keep moving.”
Nigeria has not played at a World Cup since 2018. That means an entire generation of Super Eagles players, Osimhen included, has never experienced football’s biggest stage. Not in a qualification group. Not in a round of sixteen. Not at all. While 48 nations gather across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer, the most decorated football nation in West Africa is absent.
The route back was there. Nigeria finished second in their qualification group, earned a playoff place, and then lost to DR Congo. Two consecutive absences in an era where the competition has never been more accessible.
“Sometimes life happens” is a generous way to describe it.
Osimhen is 25. He is in the form of his career. He is the kind of striker tournaments are built around. Somewhere in Kansas City or Los Angeles or Toronto this month, a less talented centre-forward from a lesser footballing nation will score a goal on the world’s biggest stage while Osimhen watches through a screen.
Nigeria will eventually return to the World Cup. The talent in the Super Eagles squad is not the problem. But until the structures, the preparation, and the accountability match the quality of the players available, moments like this one will keep happening.
Osimhen said they just have to keep moving.
He is right. But someone also needs to explain exactly how this happened. Twice.
