Victor Osimhen faces the possibility of being one of the finest players of his generation never to appear at a World Cup if Nigeria fails to advance in the African qualifying playoffs for the 2026 tournament, which begin Thursday.
Injuries kept Osimhen out for much of Nigeria’s 10-game qualifying group over the past two years, contributing to the Super Eagles landing in a four-team playoff bracket in Morocco, where they first face Gabon. The winner will still need to compete in the six-team intercontinental playoffs in March, likely in Mexico.
At 26, Osimhen, top scorer in this season’s Champions League with Galatasaray, is near his peak, combining speed, skill, and power reminiscent of his idol Didier Drogba, all while wearing a protective mask for facial plates inserted after a serious injury four years ago.
Osimhen, who once paused soccer to work at a church before breaking out at the Under-17 World Cup, carries Nigeria’s hopes after the country missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The path to the playoffs has been bumpy. In Rabat, players protested unpaid bonuses and initially refused to train. Nigeria, top-seeded in a six-team qualifying group, struggled without Osimhen in November 2023 and June 2024, failing to win its first four games. His six goals in five unbeaten matches last month helped Nigeria finish second behind group winner South Africa.
Nigeria enters the playoff semifinal as favorites against Gabon, led by 36-year-old striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Captain William Troost-Ekong reassured fans that the financial dispute was resolved Wednesday.
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Osimhen first rose to prominence at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile, scoring in all seven games and netting the opener in Nigeria’s 2-0 final win over Mali. He debuted for the senior team at 18 but missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia after a goalless season at Wolfsburg. He also saw Nigeria eliminated by Ghana in the Qatar qualifiers.
Coming from a challenging background as the youngest of seven and losing both parents, Osimhen worked to support his family, even taking a nearly two-year break from football to help at Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s church. He was later nurtured by Nigeria Under-17 coach Emmanuel Amunike.
A Serie A winner with Napoli and African Player of the Year in 2023, Osimhen now has the chance to shine on the global stage at the 2026 World Cup.
Source: AP