SEGUN ODEGBAMI: The 2026 World Cup - my take!

Sports analyst Segun Odegbami has voiced profound disappointment and lingering pain over Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He described the Super Eagles' absence from the month-long global event as a "nightmare" that Nigerians must awaken from.

“

The pain lingers. That the Super Eagles were not a part of an event that gripped the attention of the whole world for a period of 6 weeks was a nightmare Nigerians must wake up from.

Odegbami placed blame squarely on the "administration that failed the country," emphasizing that such leadership must not be allowed to return to power. He called for accountability, stating that coaches, players, and administrators who contributed to the failure must be removed. "Nigeria must not reward glaring failure. There must be No room for sentiments!" he asserted.

“

The administration that failed the country must not return to power under any circumstance.

Reflecting on the World Cup itself, Odegbami acknowledged the immense power of football to captivate and unite the world. He noted how the sport commanded global attention for six weeks, bringing people together in shared excitement, regardless of their national allegiances. "For 6 weeks, football brought all of humanity together (friends and enemies alike), uniting them in the ecstasy of wins (and losses)," he observed.

“

Nigeria must not reward glaring failure. There must be No room for sentiments!

Despite Nigeria's absence, Odegbami commended the performances of Africa's representatives at the tournament. He observed that nine out of ten African nations advanced past the group stage, with most putting up strong performances against top-tier teams. He concluded that the continent is rapidly closing the gap in world football hierarchy, with domestic leagues playing a crucial role in this progress.

“

For 6 weeks, football brought all of humanity together (friends and enemies alike), uniting them in the ecstasy of wins (and losses),