Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has launched a scathing attack on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, demanding the immediate resignation of its president Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the entire board after Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria’s campaign ended in heartbreak with a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo, a result that confirmed the country’s absence from back-to-back World Cups for the first time since it debuted on the global stage in 1994. The Super Eagles have now missed three editions of the tournament: 2006, 2022 and 2026.

Mikel, who won 89 caps for Nigeria and featured at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, said the latest collapse was not just a sporting disappointment but a damning indictment of those running the game in the country. Speaking in an interview, he insisted that accountability must start at the top.

He described the failure as a hammer blow for a nation that prides itself on being a continental powerhouse, stressing that a country of Nigeria’s size and footballing pedigree has no excuse for missing the World Cup twice in succession.

Mikel argued that the federation’s leadership has overseen a period of stagnation while rival African nations have surged ahead. He pointed to Morocco as a model of what Nigeria should aspire to, highlighting their investment in infrastructure, coaching and youth development, and their recent deep runs at major tournaments.

In contrast, he said, Nigeria has been “left behind,” trapped in a cycle of poor planning, administrative wrangling and short-term fixes. For Mikel, the only credible response to such a “disastrous” qualifying campaign is a clean break at the top of the federation and a comprehensive reset of Nigerian football.

His comments echo growing frustration among fans and former players who believe the Super Eagles’ talent pool is being squandered. With one of the strongest squads on the continent, critics argue that Nigeria should be setting the pace in Africa, not watching from the sidelines as others take centre stage at the World Cup.