Star striker Victor Osimhen risks being among the best players of his generation never to play at the World Cup if Nigeria fails to advance toward the 2026 tournament from the African qualifying playoffs that start Thursday.

Osimhen’s absence due to injuries for much of Nigeria’s 10-game qualifying group over the past two years is a big reason why the Super Eagles find themselves in a four-team playoffs bracket in Morocco. Nigeria first faces Gabon.

The winner that emerges Sunday from a playoff final against either Cameroon or Congo still has more work to do — at the six-team intercontinental playoffs in March — likely in Mexico.

At age 26, and the leading scorer in the Champions League this season with Galatasaray, Osimhen is playing close to his peak with skill, pace and power like

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