NFF Should Be Disbanded If Nigeria Misses 2026 World Cup, Says Mikel Obi

Thursday September 11, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |

Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has urged that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) be disbanded should the national team fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria’s chances of reaching the tournament now hang by a thread after a draw against South Africa in the Group C qualifiers left the Eagles third on the table—six points adrift of the Bafana Bafana—with only two games remaining.

Mikel blamed the team’s struggles on the NFF’s failure to put its house in order, insisting that the state of Nigerian football reflects the body’s poor leadership and lack of accountability.

“If Nigeria doesn’t qualify for the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to go… It’s unacceptable,” the former Chelsea star said on the Obi One Podcast.

“We didn’t qualify for Qatar — the last World Cup — and now it looks like again we are not going to make it. Honestly, I have nothing to say about it,” the ex-midfielder said.

“It is just horrible. Do you blame the players? No, I don’t blame the players. Yes, the players have to take responsibility for the situation, but are you gonna blame the players alone? No.

“Again, we talk about it so many times, and that’s why you have people disrespecting the African continent and football.

Mikel believes the people who run football in Nigeria should be held “accountable” for the country’s woeful outing in the qualifiers.

“Yes, the players have to take responsibility, but the biggest challenge is from the top,” the ex-Lyn Oslo star said.

The Super Eagles are on 11 points after eight matches, six behind leaders South Africa.

While there are two matches to end the qualification race for Africa, Nigeria is at huge risk of not making it as one of the four second-best teams for a playoff.

The qualification races return next month with Nigeria going away to Lesotho before welcoming neighbours, the Benin Republic.

If they win the two games in other matches that go their way, the three-time African champions may sneak in as one of the best four teams for a play-off competition.