Victor Osimhen Rallies Super Eagles Ahead of Crucial World Cup Qualifiers

Super Eagles and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen's urged his teammates to stay focused and give their all ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda & Zimbabwe.

Osimhen’s Call for Urgency

Osimhen who's set to lead the line when Nigeria faces Rwanda in Kigali on 21 Mar, is determined to avoid missing another world cup after the heartbreak of 2022.

“There’s new manager now and we're all looking forward to the game against Rwanda to correct our previous mistakes and put ourselves in better position to qualify” Osimhen told BBC Sport.

The 26 year old striker who missed Nigeria’s last 2 qualifiers due to injury, is expected to return for the critical fixtures. The super eagles currently sit 5th in Group C, 4 point behind leaders Rwanda.

The Need for Total Commitment

Osimhen emphasized that talent alone won't be enough, stressing the importance of hard work and determination.

“People say we've talented generation but we can only confirm this talent when we play in World Cup like those before us. I was sad, like my teammates, to miss out on Qatar and our fans didn’t even understand how much it affected us. This's why we must correct previous mistakes by giving everything to our country, our new coach and proving ourselves worthy” he said.

Chelle’s Demands & Tactical Approach

Osimhen revealed on the Obi One Podcast that new coach Eric Chelle's set high standards for the team.

“I'd chat with our coach last week. He told me he'll be very demanding of all our players. He wants us to fight for every ball and if player doesn’t give 100%, they won’t play” Osimhen shared.

Chelle who led Mali to the AFCON quarterfinals, believes Nigeria's the quality to qualify but insists the players must be fully committed.

“He told me: ‘Victor, Ekong and the rest must lead by example. If the team sees you fighting, they'll follow.”.

The Road to Qualification

Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 before hosting Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25. With only the group winner securing automatic qualification, the super eagles must deliver strong performances to stay in contention.

“Names no longer win matches. We'll be playing for our country, our families and the hopes of almost 300 million people. The World Cup's priority and we must make it happen this time” Osimhen said.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.