Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has launched a blistering attack on the Nigeria Football Federation leadership following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria's World Cup Dream Ends in Penalty Heartbreak
The Super Eagles suffered a devastating defeat against DR Congo in the World Cup play-off final played at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Sunday night, November 18. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Nigeria lost 4-3 via penalty shootout, marking the country's second consecutive failure to qualify for the global tournament.
The 2013 AFCON winner and Chelsea legend did not mince words in his criticism of the football governing body, blaming their mismanagement and corruption for denying Nigerians the opportunity to watch their team on football's biggest stage.
Mikel Obi's Explosive Accusations Against NFF
In a viral post on X platform and through The Obi One Podcast, Mikel Obi expressed his deep frustration with the NFF's leadership. "For the past eight years, this NFF have deprived the common Nigerian the chance to watch our team, our country, in the World Cup on the biggest stage," he stated.
The former Stoke City captain accused the federation of consistent failure, emphasizing that "they have no idea" how to run Nigerian football properly. He claimed that the NFF officials are primarily interested in "what comes in put in their pockets" rather than developing the sport.
Mikel Obi warned against giving the current leadership another chance, predicting that "it's still gonna be the same result which is failure." He called for immediate change, declaring "Enough is enough" and demanding that the right thing be done for Nigerian football.
Football as Nigeria's Unifying Force
The UEFA Champions League winner highlighted the unique power of football to unite Nigerians across religious and tribal divides. He emphasized that football remains "the one thing that brings us together" regardless of whether someone is Muslim or Christian, or from major tribes like Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo.
Mikel Obi noted that despite the country's challenging economic situation and the suffering of the people, football provides a rare source of collective joy and national pride. "All that goes out of the window when there is football, especially the World Cup; we all support Nigeria," he explained.
The football legend's passionate critique comes as Nigerian football fans grapple with the disappointment of missing another World Cup tournament, raising serious questions about the future direction of the sport in the country.
