Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana believes Nigeria’s failure to qualify for back-to-back FIFA World Cups should catalyze long-overdue reforms within the country’s football administration, urging the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to make proper planning and preparation a top priority.
The Super Eagles missed out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup after another disappointing qualifying campaign, marking Nigeria’s second consecutive absence from football’s biggest tournament.
Speaking on the lessons from the setback, Olofinjana said the disappointment should force stakeholders to address the systemic issues that have affected the national team for years.
“Missing two World Cups in a row should be a wake-up call for everyone involved. It should make us sit down, identify our mistakes and ensure that proper preparation becomes a priority going forward,” Olofinjana said.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder argued that Nigeria’s abundance of talent has often created a false sense of security, leading to complacency in planning for major competitions.
“We’ve always been blessed with talented players, and sometimes that has made us believe talent alone is enough. But modern football is about preparation, organisation and doing the right things consistently,” he added.
Olofinjana called for a cultural shift within Nigerian football, stressing that success at the highest level can only be achieved through professionalism, long-term planning and accountability.
The UEFA Pro Licence holder maintained that the Super Eagles have more than enough quality to compete at future World Cups but warned that talent must be matched by a structured development programme and better administrative decisions.
With qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup now the next major objective, Olofinjana believes Nigeria must begin preparations immediately to ensure the mistakes that led to consecutive qualification failures are not repeated.
