Nigeria’s next golden generation will be remembered not for their success on the pitch, but, for for being perennial under-achievers and the reality is kicking in with the 2026 FIFA World Cup about to get underway.
For a consecutive editions of the global football show piece, Nigeria has failed to qualify.
The Super Eagles missed the Qatar 2022 World Cup; losing on away goals to Ghana’s Black Stars in the playoffs.
While you might think the team had learnt its lessons, four years later the team suffered another playoff heartbreak.
A penalty shootout defeat in the Continental Playoff final to DR Congo ended Nigeria’s dream.
Reflecting on the impact of missing back to back World Cup tournament’s Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi described it as ‘devastating’.
Moffi featured five times for the team in the 2026 World Cup qualifies but was not invited for the playoffs.
The 27 year-old forward has conceded that he will never play at the World Cup.
“It’s devastating for the fans, I think more for us too,” Moffi reacts to missing the tournament. “By the next world cup I am 31 and most of the squad will be 31, 32 or 33.
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“It’s almost impossible for us to be there if we’re being totally honest. If you look at the Super Eagles the oldest is 29 or 30; I think it’s Semi. It is quite difficult.
“For some of us maybe we might watch it from home or wherever. It is really devastating for us telling our children or the story that we had two chances to be at the World Cup and we blew it.”
