Osimhen hopes Lookman and ‘talented generation’ help Nigeria to 2026 World Cup qualification after Qatar disappointment – Football Italia – March 12 latest

Victor Osimhen believes that the Nigeria national team have to ‘correct’ their mistakes and qualify for the 2026 World Cup after the disappointment of missing out on Qatar 2022, and hopes that the current team, which includes Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, cements their status as a ‘talented generation’. 

Osimhen and Nigeria missed out on qualification to the 2022 World Cup by the narrowest of margins, losing out on a place to Ghana on away goals after a 1-1 draw over two legs of the final round of CAF qualification. 

2022 was only the second time that Nigeria have missed out on World Cup qualification since making their debut at the tournament in 1994. 

There are great expectations for the current Nigeria side ahead of the 2026 tournament in North America given the Osimhen’s form in front of goal for Galatasaray, the continued successes of Atalanta’s African Player of the Year, Lookman, as well as a host of Premier League stars including Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi. 

Osimhen: Nigeria must ‘correct all the previous mistakes we’ve made’

In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Osimhen explained that the current Nigeria squad can only consider themselves a ‘talented generation’ if they qualify for the World Cup. 

“There’s a new manager now and we are desperately looking forward to the game against Rwanda to try to correct all the previous mistakes we’ve made and put ourselves in a better position to qualify,” Osimhen told BBC Sport. 

The Super Eagles will play away against Rwanda and then at home to Zimbabwe in World Cup qualification during the upcoming March international break. 

Osimhen continued: “People say we have a talented generation but we can only confirm this talent when we play in a World Cup like those before us,” Osimhen confided.

“I was sad, like my team-mates, to miss out on Qatar and our fans didn’t even understand how much it affected us.

“This is why we must correct the previous mistakes by giving everything to our country, our new coach and prove ourselves as being worthy.”

Even though Nigeria are the highest-ranked team in their qualifying group, they currently sit in fifth place out of six, so have ground to make up if they are to finish first, which guarantees a spot in the final tournament. 

“Names no longer win matches and you must be ready and switched on for the duration of the games,” Osimhen 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.”