Former Nigeria FA boss speaks on Super Eagles World Cup miss

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has publicly expressed his profound disappointment following the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling the setback a major missed opportunity for the nation.

Speaking on a football show, Pinnick admitted his surprise at the outcome, given the expanded format that grants Africa nine automatic qualification spots.

"I didn't see it coming because ten teams from Africa will qualify," he said, stressing that the new system should have favored a traditional powerhouse like Nigeria.

Pinnick contrasted the current failure with past successes under his leadership, recalling the challenging but successful qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He also reflected on the narrow 2022 playoff defeat to Ghana, where Nigeria was eliminated on the away goals rule. "We didn't win, but we didn't lose," he said of that tie. "We were knocked out by the away goal rules."

The former administrator, who served as NFF president from 2014 to 2022, did not shy away from stating his belief in his own record. "For the 2026 World Cup, if I were there, definitely, Nigeria would have qualified," he asserted.

Despite his strong critique of the qualification failure, Pinnick struck a conciliatory note toward the current administration. He offered praise for incumbent NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, acknowledging the widespread challenges facing Nigerian football at all levels amid a backdrop of mixed results across the country.

Pinnick's candid remarks have reignited debate among supporters and pundits about leadership, planning, and the future direction of the Super Eagles as they begin the long process of rebuilding for future international campaigns.

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