By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 24, 2025

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is eager to feature in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for Nigeria under new coach Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles hope to get their campaign back on track in the next two games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, The PUNCH reports.

Osimhen is the most prolific Nigerian striker this season with 20 goals plus five assists in 25 games across all competitions for the Turkish club, where he is currently enjoying life on loan from Napoli.

The 26-year-old, who missed the opening four games of the ill-fated series due to injuries, is also yet to feature at the FIFA World Cup and he hopes to help the country avoid missing out on two consecutive editions.

“You have to give everything; you know it’s a dream of every youngster to be at the World Cup. Mine is no exception. So for me, I want to be there just like every one of my teammates and we are really looking forward to the game against Rwanda and Zimbabwe to try and correct all the mistakes we have made in the past. So, we will be ready,” Osimhen told journalist Oluwshina Okeleji.

The striker also weighed the group stage draw of the 2025 AFCON which will see Nigeria battle Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania when the tournament will be held from December 21 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco.

“It’s not going to be easy, this is African football and you can get a lot of surprises but we will take each game as it comes. We have a new coach and I spoke with him a couple of times and I know the kind of objectives he has set for the team and I am looking forward to the first training so we can feel his presence,” Osimhen added.

After four matches, the three-time African champions sit in fifth place with just three points, four points behind leaders Rwanda, with six games left to play in the qualifying series.

March’s fixtures against the Amavubi in Kigali (March 17) and Zimbabwe (March 24) are crucial for Nigeria’s chances of securing a ticket to the global football showpiece, as victories in those games are expected to reignite their qualification hopes.

After the two games in March, the team will also regroup in September and October for their last four games in the Series before plotting their route to a fourth AFCON title in December.

For the AFCON, Chelle’s Eagles will begin their quest for a fourth African title against Tanzania on December 23 at the Fez Stadium in Fez.

Four days later, they will face Tunisia at the same venue, before taking on Uganda’s Cranes on December 30.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 24, 2025

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