“The NFF needs to go” – Mikel Obi calls for drastic change following Super Eagles 2026 World Cup disappointment

The Super Eagles are set to miss out on their second straight FIFA World Cup, and Mikel Obi is unhappy about the issue…

Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has called on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to vacate their seats if the Super Eagles fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Unless something monumental happens, Nigeria is set to miss a second consecutive edition of the World Cup. They currently sit third in Group C, having accrued a paltry 11 points from eight games.

 

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South Africa currently top the group with 17 points, while Benin have 14. So, with just two games left and only six points up for grabs, it is highly unlikely that Nigeria will make it to the United States of America next year.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles midfielder Mikel, who attended the FIFA World Cup twice in 2014 and 2018, has expressed disappointment with the current team's inability to qualify for the Mundial.

Mikel has even called on the Nigerian government to wade into the Super Eagles issue, as he believes that the NFF have done done enough.

“I feel for the people of my country because they are going to be devastated right now,” Mikel said on the Obi One Podcast.

“For the second time running, we are not gonna be qualifying for the World Cup. Things have to change if we don't make it to the World Cup. I just think the whole NFF board need to go, they have to go.

“I'm saying this because it's not acceptable. Twice in a row, we won't qualify for the World Cup when we are the biggest football country in Africa, forget what any other person says.

“If we've not qualified twice in a row, then something is wrong certainly. A drastic change has to be done, the government have to get involved.

“The players have to take responsibility, but the biggest problem is from the top. When I talk like this, it is because I love Nigeria.

“The problem has to be from the top. They don't make the players comfortable. With two games left, we just have to support the team,” the former Chelsea man added.

If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go” — Mikel Obi.

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— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) September 11, 2025

Can The Super Eagles Still Qualify For The 2026 World Cup?

Although it is often said that anything can happen in this football, it is unlikely that anything will happen in the Super Eagles' case. The 1-1 draw against South Africa on Tuesday did them no favours.

The Bafana Bafana have two more games against Zimbabwe and Rwanda,  which will be played on their home turf.

They just need one point from both games to knock the Super Eagles out of contention, and for sure, they won't lose both games in front of their home fans. There's also Benin, who are three points ahead of them.

Unless something extraordinary happens, Nigeria will have to wait until 2030.