Winning AFCON won’t erase pain of missing 2026 World Cup – Mikel Obi

Former Nigeria international John Mikel Obi has insisted that even if the Super Eagles win next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, it will not compensate for their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mikel argued that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board must resign immediately, stating they have failed in their primary duty.

Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, he said: “But does it 100% make it up for it? [winning the AFCON], I don’t think so, because we want to see ourselves in the World Cup. I said it, if we do not qualify for the World Cup, the NFF, the whole board has to go. They have to go, because you can’t keep repeating the same mistake every time and thinking something is going to change. It’s just going to be the same results. If you have the same people doing the same thing and failing all the time, and you give them one more time, no.”

The former Chelsea midfielder added that Nigerian fans have been robbed of watching Victor Osimhen—one of the world’s most in-form strikers—on football’s biggest stage.

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“It’s a shame that you can’t see a striker in his prime, in his prime, absolutely on fire, it’s not going to be in the World Cup. Haaland knew about it. 28 years or 30 years, they haven’t been in the World Cup? He knows.

“As one of the best strikers in the world, he has to be in the World Cup. He has to be, because that’s where he belongs. Competing in the World Cup, in the biggest stage. On the biggest stage, yeah. On the biggest stage, that’s where he belongs. And it’s a shame that we can’t see our best striker in Africa be in that biggest stage, competing, showcasing his talents, scoring goals for our country, for our nation, Africa, Nigeria.”

Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo in the playoff final, following a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes. DR Congo will now advance to the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico next March.

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