(Nyesom Wike. Photo by Guardian News)
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has criticized the Super Eagles for Nigeria’s inability to make it to the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
He claims that many Nigerians are still extremely dissatisfied by the nation’s exclusion from the biggest football tournament.
Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo was one of the dignitaries present at the Kuje-Gwagwalada Dual Carriageway Phase I opening in Abuja on Wednesday when Mr. Wike gave his remarks.
The minister used the occasion to tell the national squad that Nigerians were entitled to better.
Indeed, we have congratulated Joseph Yobo, one of our stars. However, Mr. Wike stated, “Let me use this channel through you to let the Super Eagles know we’re not happy.”
“I say I won’t clap if no one tells you that because some people are applauding you when they say Super Eagles.”
I won’t applaud because I watch the World Cup, see nations that I didn’t know before they qualified to play, and spend hours watching these nations.
The former governor of Rivers stated that it was hard to comprehend how Nigeria, endowed with a large number of players participating in Europe and other elite leagues, was unable to qualify for the expanded 48-team competition.
There are at least 13 Nigerians playing all around the world in this context. We don’t qualify here, though. He said, “Yobo, go tell them we’re not happy.”
After a dismal qualifying campaign, Nigeria was unable to advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prolonging their absence from the competition since its 2022 Qatar edition.
The Super Eagles’ omission from the 2026 World Cup is one of the biggest surprises of the competition, considering they are the second-highest-ranked nation in the FIFA rankings published in June, only surpassed by Denmark.
At the current World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Africa has a record ten teams competing, four of whom are making their tournament debuts.
A number of African teams have made an impression, including Ghana, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cape Verde, which have all put on impressive performances against more recognized football heavyweights.
As nations with lesser football history have taken advantage of the extended competition, Nigeria’s absence has became even more apparent. While the three-time African champions are still spectators, the 2026 World Cup has seen debutants and nations make their international debuts.
Mr. Wike’s comments are indicative of the growing dissatisfaction of many football fans who feel that Nigeria, which is endowed with a wealth of talent and resources, ought to have been one of Africa’s representatives at the Mundial.
