Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has delivered a stark ultimatum to Nigerian football authorities: if the country fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the entire Nigeria Football Federation board must go.
The ex-Chelsea star’s frustration is understandable.
Nigeria’s World Cup dreams are hanging by the thinnest of threads after a disappointing 1-1 draw with South Africa left them sitting third in Group C, six points behind the leaders with only two matches remaining.
During an appearance on the Obi One Podcast, Mikel didn’t mince words about his country’s predicament.
“If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go… it’s unacceptable,” he said, his disappointment clearly evident.
The timing makes his criticism even sharper. Nigeria already missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and now they’re staring at the possibility of consecutive failures on football’s biggest stage.
“We didn’t qualify for Qatar, and now it looks like we might miss out again. I honestly don’t know what to say about it anymore. It’s just horrible,” Mikel admitted.
While Mikel acknowledges that players must shoulder some responsibility for their current position, he believes the real issues run much deeper than what happens on the pitch.
“Should we blame the players? Not entirely. Yes, they need to take responsibility, but the biggest problems come from the top,” he explained.
His criticism strikes at the heart of Nigerian football’s ongoing struggles with administration and governance – issues that have plagued the sport in the country for years.
The numbers tell a sobering story. With 11 points from eight matches, Nigeria must win both their remaining fixtures – away to Lesotho and at home against Benin Republic.
Even then, they’ll need other results to go their way to secure a playoff spot as one of Africa’s best runners-up.
Mikel’s frustration extends beyond just results on the field. He argues that poor leadership is damaging Nigeria’s reputation in world football.
“We keep talking about the same problems over and over, and that’s exactly why people don’t take African football seriously. Real accountability needs to start at the very top,” he stressed.
With the 2026 World Cup set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring an expanded 48-team format and nine African qualification spots, Nigeria’s potential absence would be particularly painful.
