John Obi Mikel has laid the blame for Nigeria’s failure to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup squarely at the doorstep of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), expressing deep frustration over the country’s continued struggles on the global stage.
Nigeria, once a consistent World Cup participant, will now miss the tournament for the second consecutive edition, an unwelcome first since their maiden appearance in 1994. Despite navigating their way through the qualifiers and earning a place in the playoffs, the Super Eagles faltered at the final hurdle, losing to DR Congo in a tense encounter on Sunday.
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The playoff match ended 1–1 after extra time, but Nigeria fell short during the penalty shootout, handing the Leopards a lifeline to pursue a World Cup spot through the intercontinental playoff set for North America next year.
Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, the former Super Eagles captain did not hold back in his assessment of the NFF’s role in the disappointing outcome.
“It’s a failure, that’s what it is. It was just a disappointment,” Mikel said.
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“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.”
With the World Cup dream now out of reach, the Super Eagles must regroup quickly as attention shifts to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled to run from December 2025 to January 2026.
