Former Nigeria international Peterside Idah has called on Nigerians to brace for any outcome as the football world awaits FIFA’s ruling on the appeal involving Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup qualifiers.
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Speaking on the lingering uncertainty surrounding the case, Idah stressed that the country must be prepared to accept whatever decision FIFA delivers, whether favourable or otherwise.
He described the situation as unfortunate, noting that Nigeria should never have been placed in a position where qualification hopes depend on administrative rulings rather than performances on the pitch.
“We have to accept whatever decision FIFA makes,” Idah said. “It’s not ideal for a football country like Nigeria to be waiting on a verdict instead of qualifying convincingly on the field.”
The former Super Eagles defender expressed disappointment that the matter has dragged on, adding that it has become an emotional burden for fans and a distraction for Nigerian football.
“It’s painful that we are even talking about appeals and petitions at this stage,” he noted. “Qualification should be settled by results, not courtrooms or committees.”
Idah pointed to complacency during the qualification campaign as a major factor behind Nigeria’s current predicament, insisting that crucial matches were not approached with the seriousness they deserved.
“The truth is that the players did not take some of those qualifiers seriously enough,” he said. “When you drop points you shouldn’t, you open the door to situations like this.”
While he acknowledged that Nigeria has the right to pursue its case through official channels, Idah warned against placing too much hope on a favourable ruling.
“If the decision goes in our favour, fine, we accept it,” he explained. “But we shouldn’t build our future around that hope. Nigerian football must move on and focus on doing things properly going forward.”
Idah also urged the Nigeria Football Federation to use the experience as a lesson, calling for better preparation, planning and accountability in future qualification campaigns.
“This should be a wake-up call,” he concluded. “We must stop putting ourselves in positions where we are begging for second chances. Nigeria is big enough to qualify on merit.”
As the wait for FIFA’s final decision continues, Idah’s message is clear: whatever the outcome, Nigerian football must confront its shortcomings and chart a stronger, more disciplined path forward.
