Legendary manager Rafael Benitez insists that Osimhen’s absence will harm the spectacle of the World Cup
Former Real Madrid and manager of Liverpool Rafael Benitez expressed his disappointment that the Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will not perform at 2026 FIFA World Cupsaying the tournament will be missing some of the biggest attacking talents without the Super Eagles striker.
Osimhen’s absence follows Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the North American competition, ending the country’s hopes after a dramatic CAF qualification campaign that went down to the play-off stage.
Nigeria finished second in Group C with 17 points, just one point behind South Africa, before advancing to the play-offs where they beat Gabon in the semi-finals.
However, their campaign ended in heartbreak after losing to DR Congo on penalties in the final round of the play-offs.
Benitez highlights the missing stars
Speaking to La Gazzetta, Benitez named Osimhen among several high-profile players he believes would add quality to the tournament.
“Too easy: Kvaratskhelia, first of all,” said Benitez. “And then Osimhen, and not only because Napoli has a special place in my heart. But I also have to 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 strikers.
Osimhen, who currently plays for Galatasaray, is regarded as one of the continent’s leading attacking players but is yet to feature at the World Cup, with Nigeria also missing out on Qatar 2022.
Elite nations tipped for success
Benitez also shared his thoughts on the tournament favourites, highlighting France and Spain as the 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 in the opening group matches, with co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States making strong starts to the competition.
