Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has said that African nations have more than enough talent to win the FIFA World Cup but are being held back by poor structures, weak football administration, and inconsistent long-term planning.
Speaking in a recent interview, the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner reflected on the progress of African players across Europe, noting that while the individual quality is world-class, the same cannot be said of the systems that run football on the continent.
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“African players are among the best in the world right now. You look at the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A — Africans are shining everywhere,” Mikel said.
“But talent alone doesn’t win the World Cup. You need structure, preparation, and organization from the top level down to the grassroots. That’s what we still lack.”
The former Chelsea midfielder, who played in two World Cups for Nigeria, emphasized that African nations often start from a position of disadvantage due to late preparations and administrative inefficiencies. He called for investment in proper academies, youth systems, and modern infrastructure to help the continent compete consistently at the highest level.
“When you go to Europe or South America, everything is planned — from training facilities to player development,” he added. “In Africa, we still wait until the last minute for most things. That needs to change. We can’t just keep talking about potential; it’s time to build a football culture that produces success.”
Mikel also praised Morocco’s historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup, saying it should serve as inspiration for the rest of Africa. “What Morocco did showed that we can compete with anyone. We just need to be serious, consistent, and united in purpose,” he said.
He concluded that with the right structure, Africa’s dream of lifting the World Cup is “not just possible, but inevitable.”
