‘It’ll be shameful if Nigeria misses 2026 World Cup’ – Onyeka
By Olaolu Joseph –
Super Eagles midfielder, Ogochukwu Frank Onyeka, has admitted it would be a huge shame if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Augsburg of Germany player stressed the importance of Nigeria featuring in the tournament, which will be the first-ever World Cup jointly hosted by three countries — the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Onyeka noted that with the wealth of top-quality players in the Super Eagles squad, missing two consecutive editions of the global competition is unacceptable.
The midfielder, who is on loan from Brentford of England to Augsburg, said, “The target is to win the next four games and make sure we have a good standing to qualify for the World Cup. It would be a shame if we do not qualify for the second straight edition, especially with the large number of talents we have in our squad.”
The former Faith Motors FC of Benin City, FC Ebedie of Sagamu, and FC Midtjylland of Denmark star also revealed that the players are not only determined to qualify for the World Cup but are also focused on winning the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Onyeka, who has one goal in 29 appearances for Nigeria, reiterated, “We have given ourselves the task of working hard because the most important thing is for us to go to the World Cup.”
Speaking about the AFCON, he added, “We are also preparing hard. We know how it went last time, so we are determined to do better this time. We want to win it this time around.”
The midfielder maintained that the team remains fully committed to both securing World Cup qualification and achieving continental glory at the AFCON.
