The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the Super Eagles have assured him they will qualify for the next FIFA World Cup after missing out on the 2026 tournament.
Wike disclosed this on Friday while commissioning roads linking the Mabushi Bus Terminal and Ahmadu Bello Way in Abuja.
According to the minister, former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo informed him that the national team had received his message of disappointment over their failure to qualify for the World Cup and promised to make amends.
“Joseph Yobo told me yesterday that they have communicated our message to the Super Eagles. They have told him that this will be the last time such a mistake will occur, that in the subsequent World Cup, Nigeria will be there. So their sins have been forgiven,” Wike said.
The minister had earlier criticised the Super Eagles during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada-Kuje Road, expressing disappointment over the team’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Addressing Yobo, who represented Nigeria at the 2002, 2010 and 2014 World Cups, Wike said he refused to applaud the former defender because of the national team’s failure to qualify.
“We are not happy. I watch the World Cup and see countries I have never heard of before qualifying to play, while Nigeria, with so many top players across Europe, failed to qualify,” he said.
Nigeria missed out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the African playoff final.
The Super Eagles had earlier failed to secure an automatic qualification spot before falling short in the playoffs, while DR Congo claimed one of Africa’s additional tickets to the tournament.
