Former Super Eagles and Luton Town defender Efe Sodje has described Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as deeply disappointing, insisting that a squad of such quality should have been at the tournament, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria missed the Mundial after falling to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a playoff penalty shootout, having finished second in Group C of the CAF qualifiers behind South Africa.
Despite defeating Gabon in the semi-finals, the Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo in what proved to be a second consecutive World Cup absence following their failure to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.
The Nigeria Football Federation subsequently lodged a complaint alleging that DR Congo had fielded ineligible players during the qualification process, but the appeal was dismissed, ending all hopes of a reprieve.
Sodje, who represented Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, was unsparing in his assessment.
“Very disappointing. With the quality of players we have, we should be there,” Sodje said via Brila Media.
However, the former defender was careful to spread responsibility beyond the playing squad, pointing to structural issues within the setup as a contributing factor.
“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 said.
The NFF has faced criticism over unpaid salaries and bonuses, issues widely believed to have affected team stability during the qualification campaign.
Nigeria have since attempted to move forward, finishing third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and winning the 2026 Unity Cup after victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
The Super Eagles will now turn their attention to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, where they have been drawn in Group L alongside co-hosts Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, with the campaign set to begin in September.
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