Former Real Madrid and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has expressed disappointment that Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen will not feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the tournament will miss some of its biggest attacking talents without the Super Eagles forward.
Osimhen’s absence follows Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the competition in North America, ending the country’s hopes after a dramatic CAF qualifying campaign that went down to the playoff stage.
Nigeria finished second in Group C with 17 points, just one point behind South Africa, before advancing to the playoffs where they beat Gabon in the semi-final.
However, their campaign ended in heartbreak after a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in the final playoff round.
Benitez highlights missing stars
Speaking to La Gazzetta, Benitez named Osimhen among several high-profile players he believes would have added quality to the tournament.
“Too easy: Kvaratskhelia, first and foremost,” Benitez said. “And then Osimhen too, and not just because Napoli holds a special place in my heart. But I must also add Zieliński and Lewandowski, one of the greatest ever.”
The Spanish coach stressed that Osimhen’s absence is particularly significant given his current form and importance to Nigerian football, describing him as one of Africa’s standout forwards.
Osimhen, currently with Galatasaray, is widely regarded as one of the continent’s leading attacking players but has yet to appear at a World Cup, with Nigeria also missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Elite nations tipped for success
Benitez also shared his thoughts on the favourites for the tournament, pointing to France and Spain as leading contenders due to their squad depth and technical quality.
He highlighted France’s abundance of attacking options and Spain’s emerging generation led by Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, while also mentioning England and Germany as strong challengers.
The tournament has already produced early drama across the opening group fixtures, with co-hosts Mexico, Canada, and the United States making strong starts in the competition.
