Nigeria lives and breathes football. The Super Eagles, draped in their iconic green, have long carried the nation’s hopes with their flair, history, and global recognition. From Olympic gold in Atlanta ’96 to multiple Africa Cup of Nations triumphs, their successes shine bright.
Yet, their story is also marked by heartbreak. The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have once again exposed painful cracks, stirring memories of past failures.
The recent 1-1 draw against bitter rivals South Africa’s Bafana Bafana summed up the frustration: flashes of brilliance undone by missed chances, leaving fans to wonder why a team brimming with talent so often falls short on the biggest stage.
Failure after failure
History hasn’t always been kind to Nigeria in the World Cup race.
1978: A promising campaign was ruined by Godwin Odiye’s infamous own goal against Tunisia.
1990: Rivals Cameroon shut the door in the final group game.
2006: Perhaps the most shocking collapse. With stars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Joseph Yobo, and Nwankwo Kanu, Nigeria somehow finished third in their group and failed to qualify. For many, it was the golden generation’s wasted chance.
2022: After topping their group, the Super Eagles crashed out in a playoff against Ghana’s Black Stars, leaving fans in disbelief.
Now, history threatens to repeat itself. With just two games left, Nigeria sit third in their group on 11 points — three behind second place. To stand any chance, they must beat Lesotho and Benin Republic while hoping South Africa slip up.
Mikel’s frustration
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel didn’t mince words. Speaking on his podcast, he blasted the team’s leadership and called for accountability.
“If Nigeria fails to qualify for the World Cup, all NFF executives should resign… because we won’t accept this. We failed to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and now we might not make it again.”
He admitted the players share some responsibility but insisted the blame runs deeper:
“Yes, players should take some responsibility, but are they the only ones responsible? No.”
The Super Eagles still have a slim chance. But unless something changes, Nigeria risks adding yet another painful “near miss” to its long World Cup history.
