Despite a hat-trick from Victor Osimhen on the final day of qualification, Nigeria has missed out on direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. South Africa secured the top spot in Group C, leaving the Super Eagles to settle for a playoff route after their big win over Benin. The dramatic result represents a major blow for a country that has become accustomed to regular World Cup appearances.
The failure to automatically qualify has sparked a sharp backlash from former players and pundits. John Mikel Obi, Nigeria’s former captain, called for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board to be sacked if the team does not make it to the finals. Similarly, Sunday Oliseh, another ex-Super Eagles star, argued that repeated absence from the World Cup reflects deeper administrative rot. The financial stakes are also high: Sylvanus Okpalla warned that Nigeria could lose more than $100 million in revenue by missing out.
The problem was not for lack of talent. Osimhen’s hat-trick in the final game, plus a late goal from Frank Onyeka was a strong show of attacking firepower. But the rest of the campaign exposed critical weaknesses: consistency, defensive fragility, and perhaps most damning, a lack of game-management. Nigeria’s inability to finish top sealed their fate, sending them into the more precarious and unpredictable playoff route.
Political and external pressures have also surfaced. A South African government minister publicly expressed his desire for Nigeria to fail in their qualification push, framing it as a matter of national pride and rivalry. At home, growing voices within the football community are demanding accountability. Mikel Obi’s blunt call for wholesale change at the NFF reflects a wider sense of disillusionment.
Missing out on the World Cup could carry long-term consequences for Nigerian football. Beyond the immediate loss of prestige and revenue, such a failure risks discouraging young talent, reducing sponsor confidence, and undermining the morale of fans who see the Super Eagles as a symbol of national unity.
There are also questions about what comes next. If Nigeria fails in the playoff round, the consequences for the NFF will be severe. Many believe this should trigger a complete overhaul of governance within the federation, not just a coaching change, but a full reform of how Nigerian football is run at the top.
In conclusion, missing out on direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup is more than just a sporting failure for Nigeria; it’s a warning sign. It reflects structural deficiencies in leadership, poor campaign management, and the fragility of a system that has underdelivered on the biggest stage. As the Super Eagles prepare for their playoff run, the footballing world in Nigeria is watching closely: this might be their last chance to prove that they belong among the global elite.