Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has expressed frustration over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the Super Eagles have left many Nigerians disappointed.
The minister spoke during the inauguration of Phase One of the Gwagwalada-Kuje Dual Carriageway in Abuja, where former Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo was among the invited guests.
While acknowledging Yobo’s achievements, Wike used the occasion to send a message to the national team, lamenting that Nigeria would not be part of football’s biggest tournament.
“We have congratulated one of our stars, Joseph Yobo, but let me use this medium, through you, to tell the Super Eagles we’re not happy. I saw people clapping for you; the moment they said ‘Super Eagles,’ I said I won’t clap because I watched the World Cup and saw countries I had never heard of before qualifying to play in the World Cup. But here, we did not qualify. Yobo, go and tell them we’re not happy,” Wike said.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes suffered a major setback after a poor run in the early stages of the campaign. The team struggled to secure positive results and eventually underwent changes in the coaching department, with Eric Chelle taking charge in a bid to rescue the situation.
Although the Super Eagles improved under the new coach and managed to reach the playoff stage, their journey ended in heartbreak after a penalty shootout loss to DR Congo.
The outcome means Nigeria will miss a second consecutive World Cup after also failing to secure a place at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The repeated qualification setbacks have triggered criticism from supporters and football observers who believe a nation with Nigeria’s football history should be a regular participant at the World Cup.
Since making their debut in 1994, the Super Eagles have appeared at six FIFA World Cups and reached the knockout stage three times.