The FIFA World Cup kicks off this week across North America. Forty-eight nations will chase football’s biggest prize. Sadly, Nigeria will not be among them.
For many Nigerians, this absence has become like a pattern. The Super Eagles also missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Now they will miss the 2026 edition despite FIFA expanding the tournament from 32 teams to 48. An increase in the number of teams was supposed to make qualification easier for African teams. Yet Nigeria failed again.
The disappointment is deeper because Nigeria is not a small football nation trying to punch above its weight. Nigeria has a huge population, a passionate fan base, talented players in major European leagues and a rich football history. The country has produced Olympic champions, African champions, and generations of players admired around the world.
When people from countries like Italy, Spain, South Korea, Bulgaria, Argentina, or Mexico
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