Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has called for the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board if the national team fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes are in serious doubt after the Super Eagles’ draw against South Africa left them third in Group C, six points adrift of group leaders Bafana Bafana with just two games remaining.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder expressed his frustration over Nigeria’s repeated struggles on the global stage. “If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go… it’s unacceptable,” Mikel said.
The ex-captain blamed poor leadership at the top of Nigerian football for the country’s woes. “We didn’t qualify for Qatar — the last World Cup — and now it looks like again we are not going to make it. Honestly, I have nothing to say about it. It is just horrible,” he added.
Mikel insisted that while players must take some responsibility, the biggest problem lies with the administrators. “Do you blame the players? No, I don’t blame the players. Yes, the players have to take responsibility for the situation but are you gonna blame the players alone? No. Again, we talk about it so many times, and that’s why you have people disrespect the African continent and football.”
The former Super Eagles star emphasized the need for accountability at the top, stressing that Nigeria’s football leaders must bear the ultimate responsibility for the team’s decline.
Currently, Nigeria sits on 11 points after eight games. To have any hope of reaching the playoffs, the Eagles must win their final two matches — away to Lesotho and at home to Benin Republic — while also relying on other results to finish as one of Africa’s best runners-up.
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