'It Hurts, But We Must Move On’ — Onuachu Laments Nigeria’s World Cup Absence, Backs Super Eagles To Conquer World Football

It Hurts, But We Must Move On’ — Onuachu Laments Nigeria’s World Cup Absence, Backs Super Eagles To Conquer World Football

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has expressed deep disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the development as painful for a team blessed with exceptional talent and world-class players.

The Trabzonspor forward, however, insists that missing out on football’s biggest tournament should not define the current generation of Nigerian footballers, maintaining that the Super Eagles possess enough quality to compete against any team in the world.

Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against Poland and the highly anticipated clash with Portugal, Onuachu admitted that the World Cup absence remains a bitter pill to swallow for both players and fans across the country.

According to the 29-year-old striker, the Super Eagles squad is packed with talented stars who have consistently demonstrated their abilities at top clubs across Europe, making the failure to secure a World Cup ticket even more painful.

“It is sad that we are not going to the World Cup because we have good players, great players and world-class players. Unfortunately, we are not going to the World Cup, but that is football,” Onuachu said.

Despite the disappointment, the former Genk striker believes the team must look ahead and focus on rebuilding confidence through strong performances in upcoming matches.

He emphasized that every opportunity to represent Nigeria remains special and expressed excitement about reuniting with his teammates during the current international window.

“It is always nice to come around the team and meet the boys again. We are ready, prepared and we have the quality to play against any team in the world. Hopefully, we are going to show that against Portugal.”

Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup sparked widespread disappointment among supporters, especially considering the abundance of talent available to the national team. However, Onuachu believes the squad can still prove its worth on the international stage through competitive performances against elite football nations.

The striker's confidence comes at a time when the Super Eagles are seeking to rebuild momentum following their Unity Cup success and preparations for future continental and international competitions. Many football observers have pointed to the quality within the current squad, which boasts players competing in some of Europe’s biggest leagues, as evidence that Nigeria remains a force capable of challenging the best teams globally.

Beyond his comments on the national team, Onuachu’s own football journey has become one of resilience and redemption. The towering striker endured a difficult period at Southampton, where goals proved hard to come by. During his time with the English club, he managed only four goals in 36 appearances, leading many to question whether he could rediscover the form that once made him one of Europe’s most feared forwards.

His fortunes changed dramatically after securing a loan move to Trabzonspor in 2023. The move immediately reignited his career as he adapted perfectly to the Turkish side's style of play, scoring 15 goals in just 21 league appearances during his loan spell.

Impressed by his performances, Trabzonspor moved swiftly to secure his services permanently, a decision that has since paid off spectacularly. Onuachu enjoyed a sensational 2025/26 campaign, finishing as the joint-top scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig and winning the prestigious Golden Boot after netting 22 goals in 30 league appearances.

Reflecting on his resurgence, Onuachu credited his success to being in an environment that understands his qualities and maximizes his strengths as a striker. According to him, the support from the club, coaching staff and fans played a crucial role in helping him regain confidence and consistency in front of goal.

“When you are in a team that plays to your strength and knows your quality, everything will always work out. I knew what the team wanted and what the city wanted,” he explained.

The striker also revealed that he made a promise to Trabzonspor supporters before completing his permanent move, assuring them that he would return stronger and help the club achieve greater success.

“Even before I made the transfer, I made a video for the fans and told them I was coming back stronger and better because we had unfinished business from my loan spell. I think I fulfilled what I said,” he added.

While Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains a painful chapter for players and supporters alike, Onuachu believes the Super Eagles have enough quality to bounce back stronger. For the in-form striker, the focus now is on helping Nigeria regain its place among world football’s elite while continuing his impressive goalscoring exploits in Turkey.