Former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, has opened up about the long-lasting impact of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, saying it hurt the careers of many players in his generation.
Yobo, who was speaking during a chat with Brila FM, shared his experience as he reflected on the current struggles of the Super Eagles in their ongoing qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria, a football powerhouse in Africa, is currently sitting in third place in Group C of the African qualifiers, raising fears that the team may miss out on the tournament again.
Yobo, who featured for Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, expressed how painful it was to miss out on the next edition in Germany in 2006, especially for a group of young and promising players.
“I feel horrible because something similar happened during our time,” he said. “We were young, a strong generation, and missing the 2006 World Cup affected our careers.”
According to the former Everton defender, playing back-to-back World Cups could have opened more doors for many players who were hoping to move to top European clubs. He said the 2006 tournament would have been a golden opportunity to showcase their talents to the world.
“We had just come off the 2002 tournament, and that continuity would have helped many of us move to bigger clubs. Missing that World Cup was a setback,” Yobo added.
Yobo’s comments come as Nigeria prepares to face Lesotho on Friday, followed by another crucial qualifier against Benin Republic on Tuesday. The team must win both matches to improve their chances of securing a place in the 2026 tournament.
Yobo’s warning serves as a reminder to the current generation of Super Eagles that missing a World Cup could have long-term consequences on their careers and the nation’s football development.
