Super Eagles ready for war against Zimbabwe, Troost-Ekong and Osimhen declare

• The Super Eagles are fired up for their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, with captain Troost-Ekong and striker Osimhen vowing to give their all
• Troost-Ekong praised the unity within the squad, emphasising that collective effort, not individual brilliance, would drive them forward
• New head coach Eric Chelle earned praise for guiding Nigeria to victory against Rwanda with limited time to prepare the squad

The Super Eagles are not leaving anything to chance as they gear up for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe. 

Captain William Troost-Ekong and star striker Victor Osimhen have sent a clear warning to their opponents, vowing to give everything on the pitch to secure Nigeria’s place at the global showpiece.

Speaking upon the team’s arrival at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo on Saturday, March 22, Troost-Ekong dismissed reports that Zimbabwe was being motivated to cause an upset. 

He made it clear that Nigeria’s ambition to feature at the World Cup far outweighed any external motivation their opponents might have,

“We read somewhere that the Zimbabweans are being motivated to come to Uyo and get a result. They should forget it. We are hugely motivated by the ambition to play at the FIFA World Cup,” Troost-Ekong stated.

The defender, who played a key role in Nigeria’s dominant 2-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, March 21, stressed that the hunger within the squad was at an all-time high. 

He pointed out that only a handful of the current players had the privilege of playing at the 2018 World Cup, and the new generation was desperate to experience football’s grandest stage,

“Apart from myself and Alex (Iwobi) and perhaps a couple of others who were part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this generation is hungry to play at the highest level. We want to make Nigeria proud and at the same time, do ourselves proud,” he added.

Osimhen, who netted both goals in the victory against Rwanda, echoed the captain’s determination, stating that every remaining game in the qualifiers was a battle Nigeria must win,

“The remaining matches are wars, and we must fight them with all that we have to win,” the Napoli forward declared.

Troost-Ekong also expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance against Rwanda, calling it a strong statement in their World Cup qualification campaign. He credited the collective effort of the squad and emphasised that the unity within the team was what would propel them forward,

He also praised newcomers Tolu Arokodare and Alhassan Yusuf for their debut, noting that they played out of position yet delivered commendable performances. 

The captain also commended new head coach Eric Chelle for securing his first win despite having minimal time to work with the squad.

A victory over Zimbabwe on Tuesday, March 25, would move Nigeria to nine points, strengthening their grip on a qualification spot, especially if Benin Republic and South Africa cancel each other out in their fixture.

Galatasaray joins race for Osimhen's signature, ready to bid €50 million

Previously, TheRadar reported that Galatasaray was preparing to shake up the January transfer window with a not-so-surprising move for Nigeria’s star forward Victor Osimhen. 

While Chelsea had long been linked with the 25-year-old striker, the Turkish champions are now looking to secure a permanent deal to keep Osimhen in Istanbul, a city where he has quickly won the hearts of fans.