Omotayo Fashola
Former Nigerian football captain John Obi Mikel has called for an immediate overhaul of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership following the national team’s failure to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The ex-Chelsea midfielder expressed deep disappointment, emphasizing that missing back-to-back World Cups is unacceptable for a football-loving nation like Nigeria.
The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will proceed without the Super Eagles unless FIFA rules in their favor regarding an ongoing eligibility dispute.
In a candid interview with talkSPORT, Mikel stated: “This is a catastrophic setback for Nigerian football. A country of over 300 million people—Africa’s most populous nation—failing to qualify twice in a row? The entire NFF leadership should step down immediately.
“We boast one of the continent’s strongest squads, yet we won’t be competing on the world’s biggest stage. It’s nothing short of a national embarrassment.”
Nigeria’s last hope hinges on FIFA’s pending decision regarding their protest against DR Congo, whom they accuse of fielding ineligible players during the crucial qualifiers. The governing body is expected to announce its ruling ahead of this month’s intercontinental playoffs in Mexico.
