Former Nigerian international, Joseph Yobo has stated he is hoping for a “miracle” that will help the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, emphasizing that failure to qualify would be a national disaster.
To keep their World Cup dream alive, Nigeria currently needs to secure maximum points with strong goal margins from their two remaining qualifying matches, while also needing South Africa to drop points in at least one of their upcoming fixtures.
Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Yobo drew a parallel to a past disappointment, stressing the massive consequences of missing the tournament.
“I feel horrible because something similar happened during our time. We were young, a strong generation, and missing the 2006 World Cup affected our careers,” he said.
“We had just come off the 2002 tournament, and that continuity would have helped many of us move to bigger clubs. Missing that World Cup was a setback.”
Yobo underlined the importance of the World Cup beyond the players.
“The World Cup is the biggest stage in football. It goes beyond the players. It impacts the nation, the fans, even the economy. For a country like Nigeria not to be there, it doesn’t make sense. It affects everyone, because football is a huge part of our culture.”
Concluding with a message of hope and urgency, he said: “We can’t keep making these mistakes. I’m not even thinking about not qualifying. I’m just hoping that a miracle happens somewhere. But we must play our part first.”
