Former Super Eagles defender Efe Sodje has expressed his disappointment at Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, insisting that the responsibility goes beyond the players on the field.
Nigeria missed out on a place at the World Cup after losing in the CAF qualifying campaign, marking the country’s second successive World Cup exit.
The Super Eagles finished behind South Africa in their qualifying group before their play-off hopes faded. Efforts by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to challenge the outcome on appeal were unsuccessful, confirming Nigeria’s elimination.
‘We should be there’
Reflecting on the disappointment, Sodje, who represented Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, admitted he expected more from a team blessed with considerable talent.
“Very disappointing. With the quality of players we have, we should be there,” Sodje said, Brila Media reports.
The former defender’s comments come despite recent improvements in results, with the Super Eagles finishing third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and winning the 2026 Unity Cup after wins over Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
The NFF also shares responsibility
Sodje, however, believes the reasons behind Nigeria’s failure go beyond on-field performance, pointing to structural and administrative issues within the football system.
“But it’s not just the players. We have to look at the people on the floor as well because decisions and structure play a big part in why we didn’t qualify,” he added.
The NFF has faced criticism in recent years over issues including delayed payments, player bonuses and wider organizational challenges, concerns that some observers believe have affected the progress of the national team.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign. The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group L alongside Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as they try to avoid another qualification failure.
