Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s national football team can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging the players to give their all in the remaining matches.
Speaking on his ObiOne Podcast, Mikel described the possibility of Nigeria missing out on the World Cup for the second time in a row as “an absolute crime,” saying the team must take full responsibility and deliver results in their final qualifying games.
“It’s going to be a crime, an absolute crime, if Nigeria doesn’t make it to the World Cup again,” he said. “We love our football too much. Our World Cup fate is in the players’ hands. They have to win these two games—no excuses.”
Nigeria, currently third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, must win their last two qualifying games to stand a chance of securing a ticket to the 2026 tournament.
The Super Eagles are set to face Lesotho this Friday at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa. They will then return home for their final group game against the Squirrels of Benin Republic on Tuesday next week.
The group is still open, with teams battling for the top spot that guarantees automatic qualification. Only the group winner qualifies directly for the World Cup, while runners-up may still get a chance through a playoff route, depending on FIFA’s final format for the African qualifiers.
Mikel, who led the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, stressed that representing Nigeria on the global stage is a dream for every footballer, and the current players must rise to the occasion.
“We have the talent, we have the quality. Now it’s about commitment and pride,” Mikel added.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after losing out to Ghana in a playoff on away goals. That disappointment still lingers among fans, who are hopeful that the team can redeem itself this time.
Football remains a major unifying force in Nigeria, and expectations are high as the Super Eagles prepare for their final test in the qualification series.
