Former Super Eagles player Efe Sodje has called Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup very disappointing. He believes a team with so much talent should have made it to the tournament, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Nigeria missed out on the World Cup after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a penalty shootout during the playoff. They finished second in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, falling behind South Africa.
Even after beating Gabon in the semi-finals, the Super Eagles could not overcome DR Congo. This marks Nigeria's second straight World Cup miss, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) raised a complaint, claiming DR Congo used ineligible players during the qualifiers. However, the appeal was turned down, leaving Nigeria with no chance for a comeback.
Sodje, who played for Nigeria in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, did not hold back on his feelings. “Very disappointing. With the quality of players we have, we should be there,” Sodje said through Brila Media.
The former defender also pointed out that the blame should not fall solely on the players. He highlighted that problems within the organization contributed to the failure. “It’s not just the players. We have to also look at the people upstairs because decisions and structure play a big role in why we didn’t qualify,” he explained.
The NFF has faced backlash due to unpaid salaries and bonuses. Many believe these issues harmed the team's performance during the qualifiers.
Nigeria has since tried to move on, finishing third in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco. They also won the 2026 Unity Cup after beating Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
Now, the Super Eagles are focusing on the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. They have been placed in Group L with co-hosts Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau. The qualification campaign is set to kick off in September.
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