John Obi Mikel is a former Chelsea midfielder and ex Nigerian captain
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has attributed the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualification setback to the Nigeria Football Federation.
The West African football heavyweights missed out on World Cup qualification for the second time running after falling short in the 2026 qualifying series, marking their first back-to-back absence since 1994.
Despite advancing to the playoff stage, Nigeria ultimately lost to DR Congo in the decisive match on Sunday.
During the African playoff final, the three-time AFCON winners succumbed to defeat to DR Congo on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The Leopards now stand a chance of securing a place at the global showpiece slated for next year, as they gear up for the final playoff to be held in North America.
During an episode of the Obi One Podcast, Mikel did not mince words, blaming the Nigeria Football Federation for the World Cup qualification failure.
“It’s a failure, that’s what it is. It was just a disappointment,” he said.
“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.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will now have to focus on the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, to be held in Morocco between December 2025 and January 2026.
