Former Super Eagles forward, Osaze Odemwingie has expressed deep disappointment over the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Odemwingie described the situation as painful both personally and for Nigerian football fans.
Speaking to Brila.net, Odemwingie revealed how the realization struck him emotionally.
“Recently, it touched me that Nigeria won’t go to the World Cup. I was so sad last week.
“I was ordering this Nigerian shirt, and one of them was given the label ‘Nigeria’s World Cup shirt,’ the new one our boys are using. Nigeria World Cup shirt, but we are not going.”
Odemwingie’s Bound with Football
The 44 year-old former Striker went on to describe how his passion for football, noting how even the smallest details around tournaments excite him.
“Even watching it, I am like a kid when it comes to football.
“I can get excited even about the bag that they will drop for us at AFCON camp and World Cup camp.
“World Cup kits and AFCON kits all this gets me excited. And when I saw the kits, I said Nike already had a design for our World Cup kit, and our lads would have worn this kit to play games in the World Cup.
“As someone who loves football, the child in me was sad, and I said, ‘Wow, our boys won’t wear these kits in the World Cup.’”
Odemwingie emphasized that Nigeria’s absence is not just a national disappointment but also a loss for global football, given the country’s traditional strengths.
“A lot of people want to see Nigeria at the World Cup because there are always fast and physical players.
“It’s a sad one for football. I am sure if it was left for FIFA, they would change the rule to add ten more teams.
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“They added more teams to the 2026 edition, and Nigeria won’t be part of it ,it hurts the pride.
“But there is nothing we can do about it; our boys will sit it out. This will rest in our minds for a very long time because our players are good.”
Reflecting on his playing days, Odemwingie stressed the need for better commitment and planning going forward.
“Even in my days, all players had to be available and give whatever they can.
“I remember sometimes we didn’t even have 18 players. We went to Angola once for a World Cup qualifier, and they were calling people from Europe two days before to make it 18 players.
“So when all those things pile up, we have to write it down on a board and actually glue that paper in front of the doors of the Nigeria Football Federation and say, ‘Take every match in the qualifiers as seriously as we can.’”
He concluded by pointing out the growing competitiveness in African football and warned against complacency, urging a shift in mindset among players and stakeholders.
“We were used to winning easily because there was not much competition in Africa in those days, but now there is a lot of competition.
“So we have to understand that every qualifier from now going forward is like the last one.
“Let every player be available and not think, ‘I might skip this one, Nigeria will win anyway.’
“I think that attitude is still inside of us a little bit saying we are the better ones, we have better players, they play in big clubs in Europe, we have Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
“Then some games are so difficult these days. I think those are the changes we must make.
“You must play your best team in the qualifiers, not say this country won’t give us problems that will be the change we will learn from this.”
Odemwingie represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups (2010 and 2014) and earned 63 caps for the Super Eagles, scoring 10 goals during his international career.
