Former Nigerian Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has broken his silence following the Super Eagles 2026 World Cup qualification setback.
The West African football powerhouse will for the second time running missed the global showpiece after falling short in the qualifying series last year.
Pinnick, who served as NFF president between 2014 and 2022, has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the global showpiece, particularly in light of the expanded slots allocated to Africa.
With the continent now guaranteed nine automatic slots at the World Cup, the former football administrator believes Nigeria’s absence is a missed opportunity that should never have happened.
Speaking on Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights show, Pinnick admitted he was taken aback by the outcome.
“I didn’t see it coming because ten teams from Africa will qualify,” he said, stressing that the expanded format should have worked in Nigeria’s favour.
He further draw comparisons with previous qualification campaigns, recalling how difficult the journey was for the Super Eagles to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia, yet the West African football giants still managed to secure a ticket under his leadership.
Pinnick also reflected on the painful 2022 World Cup playoff defeat to Ghana, which saw Nigeria eliminated on away goals after a two-legged tie.
“We didn’t win, but we didn’t lose,” he said. “We were knocked out by the away goal rules” he said. “For the 2026 World Cup, if I were there, definitely, Nigeria would have qualified.”
Despite his strong views on the current situation, Pinnick was careful to strike a balanced tone when discussing the present administration. He offered words of praise for current NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, acknowledging the challenges faced by Nigerian football across different levels amid mixed results nationwide.
Pinnick’s comments have since sparked debate among fans and analysts, reopening discussions about leadership, continuity, and decision-making within Nigerian football, as the Super Eagles now turn their focus to rebuilding and future international campaigns.
