Ernest Osogbue.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now at the business end, and the excitement surrounding the Mundial has risen to fever pitch. Despite the time difference, and Gianni Infantino’s pre-tournament romance with US president, Donald Trump, threatening to dampen fan experience, it has become obvious, that nothing can separate football enthusiasts from the love of the beautiful game.
Across the world, supporters are keeping vigil in an effort to catch a glimpse of their favorite team or their favorite players, irrespective of the odd hours. At the midway point of the spectacle, some teams have fallen by the wayside, nonetheless, the enthusiasm of fans has not been dampened, rather, it has increased in tempo, as the wheat is being separated from the chaff. Messi and Ronaldo fans, are already at each other’s throats, in the endless debate of who is rightfully the GOAT.
As all that is going on, the exploits of Cape Verde, a tiny island country, off the coast of West Africa, is still being discussed in awe. It has also emerged, that some African countries, were at the world cup with better goalkeepers than outfield players. The saves of Benjamin Asare in goal for Ghana against England, the exploits of Lionel Mpasi in goal for the DRC, and most of all, those of Vozinha of Cape Verde, have remained the stuff of legends.
As different countries are showcasing their teams and doing exploits, the most exciting news on Nigeria, in relation to the world cup, is the sudden popularity, and celebrity of Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye. Women around the world have suddenly found and named him the most handsome footballer in the world, as they drool over his 6’6″ frame, and designer tattoos on social media. Unfortunately, however, Okoye and the Super Eagles, failed to qualify for the Mundial.
A careful look at the exploits of individual players at the world cup, would yield the result that the forwards have been at their potent best. With only the round of 32 matches having been concluded at the time of writing, there are already players on 7 goals. This shows that the US, Canada, and Mexico football turfs, have proven to be a fertile ground for strikers. Erling Haaland is on fire, as is Kylian Mbappe. Harry Kane is also leading the charge for the three lions of England. The old war horses, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, are still holding on, and showing the younger generation that age is nothing but a number.
Prior to the world cup, most Nigerians, and several football analysts around the world, had placed Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray, and Super Eagles front man, in almost the same bracket, or just immediately below the above players. But rather than being at the world cup to stake his claim, and position himself in the place where he rightly belongs, Osimhen unfortunately, is watching the world cup on a large television screen like millions of ordinary football supporters around the world.
Football is a team sport, no doubt, and as a result, it is actually not proper to blame the failure of a team on an individual player. However, in recent times, most Nigerians have grudgingly come to accept that Victor Osimhen, is the fulcrum on which the Super Eagles revolve. He may be young, and may not be the captain of the team, but the Super Eagles, are more likely to win with him in the team, than with him not in it. This scenario was brought into sharp focus throughout the world cup qualification. Most of the games the Super Eagles drew, Osimhen was either substituted, or did not play. In the games we lost, he did not play at all, and in all the games the Super Eagles won, he played a vital role.
The above statistics underline Osimhen’s importance to the Super Eagles. For one reason or the other, Osimhen ended up picking a quarrel with Finidi George, and so was not in Benin Republic when we lost. He was injured in Rwanda, and as a result missed the crucial head to head battle in South Africa. In the playoff against the DRC, he was substituted due to an injury in the second half, and his exit somehow, energized the DRC players, who were then able to hold the Super Eagles to a stalemate, before triumphing over them via penalties.
Despite football being a team sport as earlier stated, it is also instructive to note that individual players sometimes make a difference. Osimhen has done it for the Super Eagles, in the past. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi, have proven this in the 2026 world cup so far. Talking about Harry Kane, it has emerged that some of his teammates, like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and a few others, are currently playing beyond the pain barrier at the world cup, as they nurse different unknown injuries. This is a demonstration of commitment and patriotism. While we all agree that Osimhen is one of the most committed players in the Super Eagles, it becomes obvious however, that he could have played some of the qualifiers he missed due to injuries, beyond the pain barrier. We know that club commitments are always a priority, but sometimes, you have to do what you have to do for your career.
This is not blaming Galatasaray for trying to protect their invaluable asset, but in bowing to the wishes of his club, Osimhen, rather than being at the world cup, doing exploits, rubbing shoulders with elite footballers, and displaying his heading and goalscoring abilities, has been reduced to sitting in front of the television, playing snooker, and wearing a Mo Salah shirt, in solidarity with Egypt. With a little more effort and commitment from Osimhen, I believe that the Super Eagles would have made it to the world cup.
As it stands, Osimhen is already 27, and at the peak of his powers. It is a travesty for him not to be at the world cup battling it out with Haaland, Mbappe, and Kane. While Nigeria lost a lot by not qualifying, I believe that Victor Osimhen lost more by not having the opportunity to be at the world cup in his prime. As it stands, Nigeria will definitely qualify for another World Cup in the future, if not in 2030, then in 2034. The question is, will Osimhen still be at his potent best at that time?
One lesson I have learned from this whole saga, is that while one’s destiny is mostly tied to that of his nation, an individual must make extra effort to utilize his own season, by grabbing the the opportunity. This is because while the individual’s time could expire, the nation lives on, and could correct itself in the future, while the individual may not have a second chance. For Victor Osimhen’s sake, I hope he learns the lesson, and also hope that he will still be at his lethal best when Nigeria qualifies for the next FIFA World Cup.
