Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has said the entire board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NAFF) should quit if Nigeria fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mikel made this known on Thursday during his Obi One Podcast.
According to the former Chelsea F.C. midfielder, failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time would be disastrous for Nigerian football fans.
“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.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner said those in charge of Nigerian football should not remain in office if the Super Eagles miss the tournament again.
“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.
Mikel insisted that Nigeria should not struggle to qualify for the World Cup, describing the country as Africa’s biggest football nation.
“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.
He also faulted the atmosphere around the national team, saying players are not being properly motivated whenever they return for international duty.
“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.
Mikel added that while the players must take responsibility, the main problem is from the top, calling for government intervention if necessary.
“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.
Despite his concerns, the former Chelsea F.C. star urged Nigerians to keep supporting the team, saying 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 said.
