Super Eagles captain Kenneth Omeruo has expressed the team’s unwavering determination to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Nigeria aims to bounce back after missing out on the previous edition of the tournament held in Qatar.
The Super Eagles’ hopes were dashed when they failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 1-1 draw with Ghana at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, following a goalless first leg in Ghana.
In their pursuit of a place in the upcoming World Cup, Nigeria will face Lesotho in their first qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Thursday.
Looking ahead to the game, Omeruo emphasized the team’s determination to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The pain of missing out on the 2022 tournament still lingers for many players, but they now view the upcoming qualifiers as a fresh opportunity. Omeruo stated that the entire team desires to be part of the next World Cup and aims to give their best efforts to achieve that goal.
Acknowledging the temptation to look too far ahead in the qualification campaign, Omeruo highlighted the team’s decision to focus solely on the match at hand. Their immediate concentration is on the upcoming game against Lesotho, as they vividly remember the team from the 2021 AFCON qualifiers. After the final whistle on Thursday, they will begin strategizing for the subsequent opponents.
The Super Eagles will unfortunately be without the services of key players. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who played a vital role against Lesotho in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, suffered a hamstring injury during a friendly match against Saudi Arabia last month and has been ruled out for this encounter. AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi have also been sidelined due to injuries.
Despite the absence of these players, Omeruo made it clear that their plight will not serve as an excuse in the matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the injuries and other circumstances, emphasizing the duty of the available players to step up and perform their roles diligently. Omeruo further mentioned the absence of winger Samuel Chukwueze, who scored against Lesotho in their previous clash but is also sidelined with an injury.
The Nigeria Football Federation’s media team reported that all 23 invited players have arrived at the camp and trained at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium’s training pitch on Tuesday in preparation for the qualifiers.
With determination, strategic planning, and a sense of responsibility, the Super Eagles set their sights on World Cup qualification, aiming to overcome any hurdles that come their way.
