Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread, and that reality has sent waves of concern through fans and football legends alike. With only two matches left to play against Lesotho and Benin, the Super Eagles must win both games and hope other results go in their favor. 

Otherwise, Nigeria could miss back-to-back World Cup tournaments, a scenario that former captain Joseph Yobo says would be disastrous for the current generation of players.

Yobo’s warning from experience

Speaking on Brila FM, Yobo drew a painful comparison to 2006, when Nigeria’s golden generation failed to qualify despite having some of Africa’s best talents. “I feel horrible because something similar happened during our time,” he said. 

“We were young and strong as a generation, and missing that World Cup affected our careers. That continuity from 2002 could have helped many of us move to bigger clubs.”

For Yobo, the danger is not just about missing the tournament itself, it’s about losing the momentum that comes with being on the world’s biggest stage.

What missing the world cup means

The FIFA World Cup is more than just a football tournament; it’s a career-defining platform. For players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi, all in their prime, missing out would mean losing a rare opportunity to showcase their talent to a global audience.

The tournament often serves as a springboard for major transfers, endorsements, and career milestones. Many players have gone from promising to world-class thanks to strong World Cup performances. 

Without that exposure, even star players risk losing visibility and potential moves to elite clubs.

Yobo also stressed that the impact goes beyond the players. “The World Cup is the biggest stage in football. It affects the nation, the fans, even the economy. For a country like Nigeria not to be there, it doesn’t make sense,” he said.

The pressure on the team

As things stand, the Super Eagles are training in Polokwane, South Africa, gearing up for a make-or-break game against Lesotho. Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 11 points from eight games, three points behind leaders Benin and South Africa.

Head coach Eric Chelle and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are under heavy pressure, with fans demanding results after a run of underwhelming performances. Anything less than victory in the next two games would officially end Nigeria’s World Cup dream.

What’s at stake

For a nation that once produced global icons like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and Yobo himself, the idea of missing another World Cup feels almost unthinkable. Beyond the statistics and the standings, it’s about pride, legacy, and opportunity.

If Nigeria fails to qualify, players like Osimhen and Lookman may find themselves watching the world’s biggest football event from home, when they should be at the center of it. 

And for many fans, that loss would cut deep, not just as a sporting failure, but as a missed chance for a new generation of stars to shine on football’s brightest stage.