Missing out on the 2026 World Cup would be a disappointment, says Nigerian footballer.

African football will have a strong presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America, with a record ten teams participating when the tournament kicks off next week.

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Algeria, Cape Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia will be flying the African flag, showcasing the continent's football prowess on the global stage.

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Nigeria, a powerhouse in African football, will notably be absent from the tournament for the second consecutive edition, having failed to defeat Congo DR in the playoff.

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FC Porto star Zaidu Sanusi has expressed his sentiments on Nigeria's absence, stating that it's not normal for ten African teams to be at the World Cup without Nigeria included.

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Sanusi emphasized the need for Nigeria to reclaim its position as a giant in African football, saying "I must say it’s not normal to have ten teams in Africa without Nigeria, it has happened and we have to ensure that it doesn’t happen again."

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He further stressed the importance of Nigeria's presence in future tournaments, saying "We need to take our spot as the giants of Africa and make it count next time".

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Zaidu Sanusi is now looking forward to an upcoming friendly game against Portugal, having recently played the entire second half of a 2-2 draw against Poland two days ago.

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Sanusi expressed his enthusiasm for the match, saying "I will be at home in a way and hopefully we get the result that will be good for our morale going forward".