Nigeria's World Cup miss deeply disappointing, says ex-international Sodje

Former Super Eagles defender Efe Sodje described Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as "deeply disappointing." He emphasized that a squad with the Super Eagles' quality should have secured a spot in the tournament.

Nigeria missed out on the World Cup after losing a playoff penalty shootout to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the second consecutive World Cup absence for the team, following their failure to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar. The Nigeria Football Federation's appeal alleging ineligible players were fielded by DR Congo was dismissed, ending hopes for a reprieve.

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Very disappointing. With the quality of players we have, we should be there.

Sodje, who played for Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup, was critical of the situation. "With the quality of players we have, we should be there," he stated. However, he also pointed to systemic problems beyond the players, stating, "It’s not just the players. We have to also look at the people upstairs because decisions and structure play a big role in why we didn’t qualify."

The NFF has faced scrutiny for unpaid salaries and bonuses, which are believed to have impacted team stability during the qualification campaign. Despite this setback, the Super Eagles have since achieved third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and won the 2026 Unity Cup. Their focus now shifts to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, beginning in September.

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It’s not just the players. We have to also look at the people upstairs because decisions and structure play a big role in why we didn’t qualify.