Osimhen Defends Teammates After World Cup Exit, Says Players Not to Blame

Osimhen Defends Teammates After World Cup Exit, Says Players Not to Blame

By Admin 

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen delivered an emotional address to his teammates following Nigeria’s penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup Playoff final in Rabat, Morocco a result that ended the team’s bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to team sources, Osimhen spoke passionately in the dressing room, expressing pride in the effort shown by the players throughout the qualification campaign. He commended his teammates for fighting back to restore hope for Nigerians at a time when their World Cup aspirations appeared nearly lost.

The Napoli forward reportedly absolved both players and coaching staff of responsibility for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup, insisting that the blame lay elsewhere.

“Osimhen made it very clear that neither the players nor the coaches should be held responsible,” the source said. “He stressed that Nigerians should know who ought to be accountable for this setback. He said the right things were not done at the right time.”

Osimhen’s remarks, described as heartfelt and courageous, were seen as an attempt to shield the squad from criticism while urging stakeholders to reflect on the deeper issues that derailed the qualification effort.