Mikel Obi Demands NFF Board Be Sacked If Super Eagles Miss 2026 World Cup

Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has called for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board to be disbanded if the national team fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Obi made the remarks during an appearance on the Obi One Podcast, stressing that another failure would be unacceptable given Nigeria’s status in African football.


Obi contended that institutional failures within the NFF, not just on-pitch performance, are largely responsible for Nigeria’s precarious position in the qualifiers. He pointed to the repeated failure to qualify for the World Cup (noting Nigeria missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar) as a sign of systemic issues. He urged accountability at the top.


The Super Eagles’ current qualification campaign saw a 1-1 draw with South Africa, which left Nigeria third in Group C, six points behind the group leaders, with only two matches remaining. Unless results elsewhere favour Nigeria, the dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup may slip away.


Obi said: “If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go… it’s unacceptable.” He emphasised that while players must also shoulder responsibility, much more blame lies with leadership and administrative bodies for the poor state of affairs.

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