Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has called on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to resign, following their failure to guide the national team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Chelsea legend believes it is a hammer blow for Nigeria to miss two consecutive World Cup tournaments.

The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in the summer.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Obi Mikel said
“It is a hammer blow and I have said it so many times that when you have a country as big as we do, over 300 million people, the biggest country in Africa and we are not going to the World Cup (for a) second time in a row, the FA, the people that are running the FA, should all resign.

“We have one of the best teams in Africa, and we are not going to be at the World Cup. It’s a disaster. It’s a disaster.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria still has a slim hope of making it to the 2026 World Cup following the NFF’s petition against DR Congo, which they accused of fielding ineligible players in the African playoff final last year.

FIFA, however, is expected to give its final verdict on the matter before the inter-continental playoff later this month in Mexico.