By Bukola Kayode
A former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has called for the resignation of the entire board of the Nigeria Football Federation, if the country fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former Super Eagles player made the call on his Obi One Podcast on Thursday, insisting that Nigeria missing the tournament for a second time running would be a huge disappointment for Nigerians.
He said: “I feel for the people of my country. I feel for people in Nigeria because they’re going to be devastated right now. For the second time running, we’re not going to qualify for the World Cup. Does anything change if you don’t? Oh, man. It has to. It has to,” he said.
“If we don’t make it to the World Cup, I just think the whole board of the NFF needs to go. Twice in a row we don’t qualify, something is wrong. A drastic change has to be done,” he declared.
“We are the biggest footballing country in Africa. I don’t care what anybody says. Nigeria is the biggest when it comes to African football. So if twice in a row we don’t qualify, something is definitely wrong,” he maintained.
“You have to make those players motivated, find a conducive way. When they come back home to play for Nigeria, they have to feel comfortable. And right now, nobody’s making that comfortable for them,” he lamented”.
“Yes, the players have to take responsibility, but the biggest problem is from the top. From the top. If the government want to get involved, they have to get involved because it’s not acceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner called on fans to continue backing the team as qualification hopes are still alive.
“The dream’s not dead in Berlin yet. It’s not dead yet. We have two games left and we have to still support the team. But if we don’t make it, massive, drastic change has to be done. The whole board of the NFF has to go,” he insisted.
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