Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has issued a strong call for accountability, insisting that the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must resign if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast on Thursday, the former Chelsea midfielder warned that missing out on the tournament for the second time in succession would be catastrophic for the country’s football and devastating for millions of fans.
💬 “I feel for the people of my country. I feel for people in Nigeria because they’re going to be devastated right now. For the second time running, we’re not going to qualify for the World Cup. Does anything change if you don’t? Oh, man. It has to. It has to,” Mikel said.
Accountability at the Top
Mikel stressed that responsibility for Nigeria’s qualification woes must be carried by football administrators, not just the players on the pitch.
💬 “If we don’t make it to the World Cup, I just think the whole board of the NFF needs to go. Twice in a row we don’t qualify, something is wrong. A drastic change has to be done,” he declared.
The former Super Eagles skipper argued that a football powerhouse like Nigeria should not struggle to reach the biggest stage of all.
💬 “We are the biggest footballing country in Africa. I don’t care what anybody says. Nigeria is the biggest when it comes to African football. So if twice in a row we don’t qualify, something is definitely wrong,” he added.
A Struggling National Team Environment
Mikel also highlighted the poor conditions surrounding the national team, noting that players are not motivated or given a proper atmosphere when returning home for international duty.
💬 “You have to make those players motivated, find a conducive way. When they come back home to play for Nigeria, they have to feel comfortable. And right now, nobody’s making that comfortable for them,” he lamented.
While acknowledging that players must also step up, he placed the bulk of the blame on football leadership and even suggested government intervention might be necessary.
💬 “Yes, the players have to take responsibility, but the biggest problem is from the top. From the top. If the government want to get involved, they have to get involved because it’s not acceptable,” he said.
Still Hope for 2026
Despite his harsh words for the NFF, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner urged Nigerians to keep faith with the team, noting that World Cup qualification remains mathematically possible.
💬 “The dream’s not dead in Berlin yet. It’s not dead yet. We have two games left and we have to still support the team. But if we don’t make it, massive, drastic change has to be done. The whole board of the NFF has to go,” he warned.
Painful Memories of 2022
Nigeria’s potential failure to qualify for the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada would follow on from the painful miss in 2022, when the Super Eagles were eliminated by Ghana in Abuja on away goals after a 1-1 draw.
That setback was widely regarded as one of the darkest moments in recent Nigerian football history, and Mikel Obi is adamant that the same mistake must not be repeated.
