A former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, has said the board of the Nigeria Football Federation should resign if the country fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast on Thursday, the ex-Chelsea midfielder warned that missing the tournament for a second time running would be devastating for Nigerians.

“I feel for the people of my country. I feel for people in Nigeria because they’re going to be devastated right now. For the second time running, we’re not going to qualify for the World Cup. Does anything change if you don’t? Oh, man. It has to. It has to,” he said.

Mikel stressed that accountability must start at the top, insisting that those in charge of Nigerian football cannot remain in office if the Eagles fall short again.

“If we don’t make it to the World Cup, I just think the whole board of the NFF needs to go. Twice in a row we don’t qualify, something is wrong. A drastic change has to be done,” he declared.

The former Super Eagles skipper argued that Nigeria, with its footballing pedigree, should not struggle to feature on the world stage.

“We are the biggest footballing country in Africa. I don’t care what anybody says. Nigeria is the biggest when it comes to African football. So if twice in a row we don’t qualify, something is definitely wrong,” he maintained.

Mikel also criticised the atmosphere around the national team, saying players were not being given the right motivation or conducive environment whenever they return home for international duty.

“You have to make those players motivated, find a conducive way. When they come back home to play for Nigeria, they have to feel comfortable. And right now, nobody’s making that comfortable for them,” he lamented.

While pointing to the responsibility of the players, Mikel insisted that the root of the problem lies in leadership. He also suggested government intervention may be needed to arrest the decline.

“Yes, the players have to take responsibility, but the biggest problem is from the top. From the top. If the government want to get involved, they have to get involved because it’s not acceptable,” he said.

Despite his frustration, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner called on fans to continue backing the team as qualification hopes are still alive.

“The dream’s not dead in Berlin yet. It’s not dead yet. We have two games left and we have to still support the team. But if we don’t make it, massive, drastic change has to be done. The whole board of the NFF has to go,” he warned.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar remains a significant disappointment. The Super Eagles were eliminated by Ghana in March 2022 after a 1-1 draw in Abuja, with the Black Stars progressing on away goals.

The disappointment led to the heavy criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation leadership.

The 2026 qualification campaign has seen some improvement, but remains challenging. Nigeria is in Group C, alongside South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. The group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runner-up may enter a playoff.

Nigeria’s first victory in the 2026 qualifiers came in March 2025, with a 2-0 away win over Rwanda in Kigali, thanks to a brace from Victor Osimhen. However, a subsequent 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Uyo, where Nigeria conceded a stoppage-time equalizer, hindered their progress.

On September 9 2025, Nigeria played to a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein, leaving them with 11 points from 8 matches. South Africa leads the group with 17 points, while Benin and Rwanda are also on 11 points. Lesotho and Zimbabwe have been eliminated from contention.

With two matches remaining—against Lesotho (away) and Benin (home)—Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup are still alive but require maximum points and favourable results elsewhere.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Mercy Akide remains one of the most celebrated pioneers in African women’s football. Renowned for her pace, skill, and instinctive goal-scoring ability, she broke barriers and inspired generations of female footballers across Nigeria and the African continent.

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Akide’s football journey began on the streets of Port Harcourt, where she first honed her skills. She went on to star for Jegede Babes and later Garden City Queens before gaining prominence with Jegede Babes’ successor, Jegede Babes Queens. Her breakthrough came with her dynamic performances for the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national team, where her attacking prowess made her an indispensable forward.

Achievements with the Super Falcons

Mercy Akide played in three FIFA Women’s World Cups (1995, 1999, and 2003), representing Nigeria on the global stage. She was instrumental in the Super Falcons’ dominance of continental football, helping the team secure three African Women’s Championship (AWC) titles during her era (1998, 2000, 2002).
While not always captain, Akide was consistently a leading figure on the field, known for her ability to deliver crucial goals and inspire confidence in her teammates.

International Recognition

In 2001, Akide became the first African woman to be named African Women’s Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This landmark achievement not only honored her individual brilliance but also symbolized the growing recognition of women’s football on the continent.

That same year, she also made history as the first African woman to play in the U.S. Women’s Professional Soccer League (WUSA), joining San Diego Spirit before later moving to Carolina Courage.

Her move to the United States elevated the visibility of African women’s football and inspired many young players to dream beyond local leagues.

Ambassadorial Role

Recognizing her influence on and off the pitch, FIFA appointed Mercy Akide in 2005 as one of its 15 Ambassadors for Women’s Football. In this capacity, she has championed women’s participation in the sport globally, using her platform to mentor, motivate, and advocate for gender equality in football.

Legacy

Mercy Akide’s career brought glory to Nigeria and opened doors for future generations of African women footballers to pursue professional careers abroad. Her trailblazing achievements—from continental dominance with the Super Falcons to international breakthroughs in the U.S.—cement her legacy as one of Africa’s greatest female football icons.

Her story stands as a testament to resilience, dedication, and the power of representation in women’s sports.

Sources
Confederation of African Football (CAF) archives, 2001 Awards

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been charged with making an indecent image of a child.

Coote, 43, was sacked from his officiating role in December after a video showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020 came to light.

The charge of making an indecent image of a child refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving abuse photos or videos.

Coote, who was charged on August 12 and is on conditional bail, is set to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The allegation relates to a video recovered by officers from Nottinghamshire Police in February, the force said.

Coote was also banned from officiating by European governing body UEFA until June 2026 after a different video emerged of him snorting a white powder through a bank note while in Germany for Euro 2024.

In a January interview he came out as gay and said his struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to bad choices.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM