Former Nigeria international Dimeji Lawal has said the Nigeria national football team do not deserve to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the country should stop relying on a verdict from FIFA following the petition against the DR Congo national football team.
Nigeria had submitted a formal complaint to FIFA over alleged breaches in the qualification process, but the delay in reaching a final decision has created uncertainty over the country’s chances of participating in the tournament.
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Lawal, however, believes Nigeria should accept responsibility for failing to secure qualification on the pitch.
“Nigeria does not deserve to be at the 2026 World Cup,” Lawal said.
The former midfielder questioned why the football authorities are still pushing for a ruling that could potentially hand the country another opportunity.
“If we did the job on the field, we wouldn’t be waiting for any decision from FIFA,” he added.
Lawal argued that the focus should instead shift toward rebuilding the team and preparing for future competitions.
“All this energy should be directed towards preparing the team for the future,” he noted.
According to him, Nigeria’s qualification problems stem from deeper issues that must be addressed to prevent similar situations in upcoming campaigns.
“We need to correct the mistakes that led us here in the first place,” he explained.
The former international also warned that qualifying through administrative decisions rather than sporting merit would not solve the underlying problems in Nigerian football.
“Even if the verdict goes our way, it does not change the fact that we failed to qualify properly,” he said.
Lawal concluded by urging the football authorities to prioritize long-term planning and development.
“Nigeria should focus on building a stronger team for the next qualifiers,” he stated.
