Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has condemned Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling it a national shame and insisting that no achievement, including a potential AFCON victory, can make up for the heartbreak.
Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder emphasised that winning the Africa Cup of Nations later this December would not erase the disappointment of missing out on football’s biggest stage.
“But does it 100% make it up for it? I don’t think so,” Obi said.
“We want to see ourselves in the World Cup. If we do not qualify, the NFF and the entire board have to go. You can’t keep repeating the same mistakes and expect change.”
Obi criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for persistent administrative failures, warning that retaining the same leadership would only yield repeated disappointment.
“It’s just going to be the same results if you have the same people doing the same thing and failing all the time. Giving them another chance? No.”
A National Shame: Denying Fans World-Class Talent
Mikel lamented that Nigerian fans will be denied the opportunity to see the country’s best striker perform on the world stage due to poor administration.
“It’s a shame that you can’t see a striker in his prime, absolutely on fire, not going to the World Cup,” he said.
Comparing the situation to other global stars whose countries have fought to appear at the World Cup, Obi added:
“Haaland knew about it. Twenty-eight or thirty years without a World Cup? He has to be there. That’s where the best strikers belong. Our leading forward deserves the same honour.”
He stressed that Nigerian fans should witness their top talent competing and scoring on football’s biggest stage.
“It’s a shame we can’t see our best striker in Africa performing on that platform for our nation, Nigeria, and the continent.”
Calls for Immediate Reforms Ahead of AFCON
Obi warned that reforms are urgently needed, especially with AFCON only weeks away.
“Yes, it’s a short time to make changes now, but those changes have to be made,” he said.
“Nothing will change unless the football leadership is overhauled. The NFF board must step aside after failing in their duty.”
He reiterated his long-standing stance:
“They were tasked to get the team to the World Cup, and they failed. Absolutely failed. Their job is to take Nigeria to the World Cup — and they messed it up.”
