‘Drastic Change Needed’: Mikel Obi Calls for NFF Sack if Nigeria Fails Again

Former Super Eagles skipper John Mikel Obi has called for sweeping reforms in Nigerian football, insisting that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board must be removed if the national team fails to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Sport360NG reports.

Nigeria are once again in danger of missing the global showpiece after a disappointing qualifying campaign in which they have managed just two wins from eight matches.

The Eagles, currently handled by Eric Chelle, the third coach to lead them in the qualifiers, saw their hopes further dented on Tuesday following a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein.

That result left Nigeria in third place in Group C with 11 points, trailing leaders South Africa by six and second-placed Benin Republic by three. With only two matches left, their chances of qualification are slim and no longer within their control.

Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel stressed that the NFF, led by Ibrahim Gusau, should not survive another failure after the team also missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.

“If we don’t make it to the World Cup, the entire NFF board has to resign,” Mikel said. “It is unacceptable for Nigeria, the biggest footballing nation in Africa, to miss two consecutive tournaments. If it happens again, something is fundamentally wrong and drastic steps must be taken. The government may even need to intervene. Players have their share of responsibility, but the biggest problem comes from the top.”

Despite the setback, the former Chelsea midfielder urged Nigerians to continue backing the team for their final two matches. “The dream is not over yet. We must keep supporting the players, but if we fail, there has to be a complete overhaul at the NFF.”

There is still a slim lifeline for Nigeria, with South Africa facing a possible three-point deduction after midfielder Teboho Mokoena was fielded while suspended in their March win over Lesotho. Should FIFA enforce the sanction, the group standings could shift dramatically, keeping Nigeria’s hopes alive.

If no points are docked, however, Bafana Bafana need only a draw against Zimbabwe in their next outing to officially eliminate Nigeria and consign the three-time African champions to a second straight World Cup absence.