The Super Eagles will not be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing the last edition in Qatar
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has left one of the country’s greatest football figures, Chief Segun Odegbami, disillusioned, Soccernet.ng reports.
The legendary Nigerian footballer admits that he has stepped back emotionally from the Super Eagles ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Odegbami, a central figure in Nigeria’s football history and a key member of the Green Eagles side that won the country’s first AFCON title in 1980, says the pain of missing out on the 2026 World Cup has dulled his interest in the national team, at least for now.
The former winger, who also represented Nigeria at the 1976 Olympic Games, spoke candidly on Inspiration FM in Uyo, revealing he has not followed the Super Eagles’ preparations for the 2025 AFCON and will not travel to Morocco for the tournament.
His remarks come as Nigeria prepare for the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles are widely tipped as strong contenders despite the lingering disappointment of their World Cup exit.
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2026 World Cup failure ‘still hurting’ Nigerians
Nigeria missed out on automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup after finishing behind South Africa in the group standings, before suffering further heartbreak in the play-offs, where defeat to DR Congo ended their hopes in November.
For Odegbami, the failure struck at the very heart of Nigerian football ambition.
“I am not following their preparation for AFCON since our exit from the World Cup qualifiers. The reality is that some of us gave up because football is our business and qualifying for the World Cup is the peak of our business,” Odegbami said as per the WesternPost.
The national icon insisted that the disappointment is shared by millions of Nigerians who see 2026 World Cup qualification as the ultimate benchmark for the country’s footballing progress.
“I don’t think we truly deserved a place at the World Cup because we didn’t work hard enough. We were not just good enough, so I’m not following what’s happening before the AFCON. I’m not going for the AFCON and that’s the reality.”
Despite Odegbami’s comments, optimism is building around the current Super Eagles squad, who are aiming to win a fourth continental title and soften the pain of World Cup absence.
Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Salomon Kalou has backed the Super Eagles to power to the AFCON title in Morocco.
AFCON hope, 2026 World Cup shadow
The Super Eagles flew into Fès from Cairo on Thursday aboard a chartered flight, with Group C matches against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda awaiting them. The tournament kicks off on Sunday, December 21.
Regarding the World Cup, there may yet be a final twist. The Nigeria Football Federation has submitted an official complaint against DR Congo, alleging the fielding of multiple players with eligibility issues during the play-off clash. It is a move that could potentially reopen Nigeria’s World Cup qualification path.