Quite simply, Nigeria were not good enough over the course of the two-year qualification campaign.
Changes in the dugout did not help matters, and statistics show an inability to perform without Osimhen leading the line, with just four points taken from a possible 15 when the Galatasaray striker was out injured.
Nigeria were drawn alongside South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in Group C, and squeezed into the play-offs despite being top seeds.
They drew 1-1 at home against Lesotho and played out a stalemate with Zimbabwe under manager Jose Peseiro in November 2023.
The Portuguese then departed at the end of his contract in March 2024, despite guiding Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Former Nigeria winger Finidi George took over, but his two matches as manager in June last year proved damaging to their hopes – a home draw against South Africa and a 2-1 defeat in Benin leaving the Super Eagles with just three points from four games.
