Former Chelsea captain John Terry believes Nigeria Super Eagles' absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a major loss for the tournament, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, the former England international is convinced that the disappointment of Nigeria's non-qualification is being felt most strongly by his former teammate, John Obi Mikel.
Speaking during a virtual media roundtable on SuperSport on the eve of the tournament in North America, Terry said he would have preferred to see the Super Eagles among the teams competing at the expanded 48-team competition being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The former England skipper pointed to Nigeria’s quality and tradition on the international stage, arguing that the competition would have been stronger with the three-time African champions involved.
“Nigeria will be a big miss,” Terry said. “This is a World Cup for participants who haven’t had the opportunity to play in the tournament. I would have loved to see the top team, like Nigeria, be there because they’ve got some great individuals.”
Mikel has repeatedly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation following the Super Eagles’ failed qualification campaign. The former midfielder has questioned several decisions made during the process and has openly expressed his frustration since Nigeria missed a second consecutive World Cup.
Super Eagles: Terry explains Mikel’s frustration
While many observers believe Mikel’s disappointment is linked solely to Nigeria’s absence from football’s biggest stage, Terry offered a different explanation.
According to the Chelsea legend, Mikel’s growing role as a football analyst and television pundit means the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify has also affected his opportunities to cover and discuss his country on the global stage.
“I know (Mikel) Obi is very upset that they (Super Eagles) are not there. It means he can’t do more commentating on the World Cup. That’s why he was upset,” Terry revealed.
Nigeria's route to the 2026 World Cup ended in heartbreak after a troubled qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles dropped crucial points in Group C, finishing behind South Africa despite a late recovery. That forced them into the playoff route, where they defeated Gabon before facing DR Congo in the decisive final in Rabat, Morocco.
Despite taking the lead through Frank Onyeka, Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw after extra time. A dramatic penalty shootout followed, with Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi missing from the spot as DR Congo claimed a 4-3 victory and secured Africa’s final World Cup ticket.
The failure extended beyond results on the pitch. Coaching changes, administrative uncertainty and disputes over unpaid bonuses disrupted preparations during crucial stages of the campaign. Subsequent attempts by the NFF to challenge DR Congo’s qualification through FIFA were unsuccessful.
As a result, the Super Eagles will watch from home while ten African nations – including DR Congo, South Africa, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Verde – represent the continent at the World Cup.
