Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has placed full responsibility for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), insisting that the country’s football administrators lacked the leadership and motivation required to drive the team to success.
Nigeria’s absence from the upcoming tournament marks a painful milestone this is the first time since 1994 that the three-time African champions will miss two consecutive World Cups.
The team had fought their way to the final playoff round but fell short after losing to DR Congo last Sunday.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder, who represented Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 editions of the World Cup, did not hide his disappointment.
“It’s a failure, that’s what it is. It was just a disappointment,” Mikel said, stressing that the defeat was avoidable. “We won against Gabon, but couldn’t defeat Congo.
It’s all just negative, and that’s my frustration with the NFF. They’re not the right people to motivate these players.”
Mikel argued that Nigeria has the talent to compete with the best teams in the world, but administrative shortcomings at the federation continue to undermine progress.
According to him, poor planning, inadequate support structures, and lack of proper motivation contributed heavily to the team’s collapse at the crucial moment.
The disappointment comes at a time when Nigerians are still reeling from the loss and questioning the future of the national team.
Calls for reforms within the NFF have intensified, with many believing that structural changes are necessary to revive the Super Eagles’ fortunes.
The defeat has also sparked wider conversations about coaching, player commitment, and long-term development plans heading into future tournaments.
As the debate continues, Mikel’s comments add a powerful voice to the chorus of former players who have repeatedly urged the federation to overhaul its operations and rebuild trust with both fans and players.
