Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in an interaction with former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo in Abuja, the minister said Nigerians expected more from the national team and hoped lessons would be learned to ensure qualification for future international competitions.
Wike urged the former national team captain to convey the feelings of Nigerians to the national team.
The minister stated that football remains a unifying force in the country and noted that many Nigerians were unhappy about the Super Eagles’ absence from the global tournament.
Addressing Yobo, Wike said he should relay the concerns of football loving Nigerians to the players and technical crew, stressing that the country’s absence from the World Cup was disappointing for millions of supporters.
The minister, however, expressed confidence that the Super Eagles could bounce back stronger and reclaim their place among the world’s football elite.
Nigeria failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, extending the country’s wait for a return to football’s biggest stage after also missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.