Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has urged the Federal Government to sack the board of the Nigeria Football Federation if the country fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The former Chelsea midfielder speaking on the Obi One Podcast, lambasted the NFF for what he described as “poor leadership and disorganisation,” which he blamed for Nigeria’s hopelessness in the race to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
He said, “I feel for the people of my country. I feel for the people of Nigeria because they are going to be devastated right now. Again for the second time running we are not going to qualify for the World Cup.”
“If we don’t make it to the World Cup, the whole board of the NFF – they need to go. They need to go. Sorry, they have to go if we don’t qualify for the World Cup.”
Mikel restated that Nigeria remains the biggest footballing nation in Africa and reminder everyone of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and warned that history may repeat itself.
“We didn’t qualify for Qatar, and now it looks like again we are not going to make it. Honestly, I have nothing to say about it.
“We are the biggest footballing country in Africa. I don’t care what anybody says. Yes, Egypt have Mo Salah but Nigeria is the biggest football country when it comes to African football.
“Twice we don’t qualify? Something is definitely wrong somewhere. A drastic change has to be done. If the government has to be involved, let it be done. I don’t care. They have to get involved because it is not acceptable. If we don’t qualify a second time, it is just not acceptable.”
Mikel equally admitted that the players should share in the blame but the bulk of the blame must rest with the leadership of the federation.
“I agree that the players should take responsibility (for the non qualification) for the failure to qualify for 2026 World Cup but the biggest problem is from the top. When I talk about Nigerian football I become emotional just like talking about Chelsea.
“You have to make the players conducive and motivated when they come back home to play for Nigeria. Right now, nobody is making that possible. That is probably why second time in a row, we are going to miss the World Cup.
The Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup dimmed after a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein. Nigeria desperately needed a win to have a high possibility of qualifying. The Super Eagles are third in their group, six points adrift of the leaders with just two games left.
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