“Unless they win AFCON…” — Nigerians fear Osimhen’s Super Eagles generation could go down as underachievers

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to cast a long shadow over the Super Eagles, with fresh concern emerging over what legacy the current generation of players could ultimately leave behind.

The latest debate was sparked by Terem Moffi’s brutally honest assessment of the situation. Speaking about the pain of missing another World Cup, the Nice striker admitted that many members of the current squad may never get another realistic opportunity to play on football’s biggest stage.

“That’s what the fans don’t understand. The World Cup is every four years, and not everyone gets to be a part of that. We’ve missed two World Cups now. It’s devastating for the fans, but even more so for us," Moffi said in an interview with AY Suga.

I’m 27 now, in the next World Cup I’ll be 31, and most of the squad will be in their 30s as well. It’s almost impossible for us to be there if we’re being totally honest.”

“For some of us, we might have to watch from home. How do we tell our children that we had two chances to be at the World Cup and we didn’t take it? It’s horrible to think about.”

The comments struck a chord with many Nigerians still grappling with the disappointment of seeing a team packed with elite talent miss back-to-back World Cups.

Moffi's comment sparked a wave of reactions of social media, with one particular comment summing up what many supporters have quietly feared for some time.

“Unless they win the AFCON next year, this will go down as a talented Super Eagles generation that underachieved," prominent Nigerian media figure Ovie O wrote on X.

The statement quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread debate about a squad that boasts some of Africa’s most accomplished players. See some other reactions below:

From Victor Osimhen’s prolific goalscoring exploits in Europe to Ademola Lookman’s rise into one of the continent’s most feared attackers, many supporters believe the current Super Eagles squad possesses enough quality to compete with the very best teams in Africa.

Yet despite the individual brilliance, the trophy cabinet remains largely empty.

The closest the group came to major success was their run to the AFCON final in 2025, where they ultimately fell short against hosts Ivory Coast. Now, after also missing consecutive World Cups, questions are increasingly being asked about whether this generation has fulfilled its potential.

The concern is not necessarily about talent.

Few Nigerian teams in recent memory have been blessed with a deeper pool of players performing at top European clubs. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and several others have all established themselves at a high level abroad.

The problem, many fans argue, is translating that quality into collective success.

Missing the 2022 World Cup was painful. Missing the 2026 edition has only amplified fears that some of the country’s biggest stars could retire without ever appearing at football’s grandest tournament.

Moffi’s comments highlighted that reality. By the time the next World Cup arrives in 2030, many of the current squad members will be entering the latter stages of their careers, while a new generation will inevitably begin pushing for places. That reality has intensified calls for the Super Eagles to make next year’s Africa Cup of Nations count.

For many Nigerians, AFCON 2027 is no longer simply another tournament. It is becoming a defining opportunity to ensure that a generation led by Osimhen and Lookman is remembered for silverware rather than squandered potential.

Because for all the individual accolades, club trophies and personal achievements accumulated across Europe, many supporters believe one question will continue to follow this team until they win something significant: What did this generation achieve together?