Former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has explained why Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team missed out despite the expanded 48-nation tournament giving Africa 10 representatives, marking their second consecutive absence after also missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Nigeria's Qualifying Campaign
Nigeria finished second in Group C of the CAF qualifying series, which included South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. They advanced to the playoff, where they beat Gabon 4-1 in the semi-final but lost to DR Congo, which secured the World Cup ticket after winning the intercontinental playoff against Jamaica.
Rohr's Assessment
Rohr, who coached Benin in the same qualifying group, blamed Nigeria's failure on a poor start. He told Footy-Africa: "I also think about how Nigeria hasn't participated since 2018. I believe this is because when we faced them in the group stage, even though they had great individual players with immense quality, they simply didn't play like a team early on and dropped too many points."
The Franco-German manager, who recently watched games in the United States, added: "It is truly a pity that major players like Osimhen, Chukwueze, and Lookman are not here to be seen. For me, it's a pity."
Poor Start Under Former Managers
Rohr's assessment aligns with the views of many Nigerians. Under former managers Jose Peseiro and Finidi George, the team had a poor start. Peseiro managed 1-1 draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, while Finidi drew with South Africa and lost to Benin, resulting in just three points from the first four games.
Eric Chelle took over and earned 14 points from a possible 18, but a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo proved costly. Nigeria finished second and entered the playoff, where they lost to DR Congo on penalties.
NFF's Legal Efforts
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) petitioned the eligibility of DR Congo players but lost the case. They have since taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, which has yet to rule.
Osimhen's Reaction
Victor Osimhen spoke about the failure during a live session, admitting that it hurts for him and his teammates, but they must keep moving and aim to qualify for the next tournament.
