Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has sounded the alarm ahead of Nigeria’s final two qualifying games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the team must fight to secure their spot at the global tournament.
Currently sitting third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, Nigeria faces a make-or-mar double-header. First up, they travel to Polokwane to face the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday. Days later, they round off the campaign at home against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic.
With the group still wide open, only back-to-back victories will keep the Super Eagles’ dreams alive. Anything less, and the three-time African champions risk missing out on the World Cup—again.
On his ObiOne Podcast, Mikel didn’t mince words as he urged the team to rise to the occasion.
“It’s going to be a crime, an absolute crime, if Nigeria doesn’t make it to the World Cup again. We love our football too much. Our World Cup fate is in the players’ hands. They have to win these two games—no excuses.”
The former Chelsea midfielder, who represented Nigeria at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, knows just how much the tournament means to fans across the country.
Mikel also called on the players to shut out distractions and deliver when it matters most.
“At this stage, every off-field problem goes out the window. It’s about the players now. They must take responsibility and deliver. Nigerians are counting on them.”
With millions of fans at home and abroad holding their breath, the Super Eagles have no margin for error.
Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup would not only devastate fans—it would ripple across the entire sports market, from sponsorship deals to media rights and even grassroots football development. A strong performance in the next two games is about more than pride; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s place on the global football stage.
The message from Mikel Obi is clear: no excuses, only victories. The Super Eagles still hold their destiny in their own hands, and the next two matches will define whether Nigeria takes its rightful place at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
At Sports Market International, we’ll be following every moment of this journey—because this is what makes us the best sport blog in the sports market: capturing the passion, pressure, and pride that football brings.
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