Former Super Eagles captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has strongly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for attempting to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through a legal petition rather than on-pitch performance.
Speaking on his platform, Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights, following the conclusion of AFCON 2025 (where Senegal defeated Morocco 1–0 in the final on January 18, 2026), Oliseh argued that Nigeria’s failure to qualify is self-inflicted and should not be blamed on administrative technicalities.
The “Ineligible Player” Dispute
Nigeria’s path to the 2026 World Cup seemingly ended in November 2025, when the Super Eagles lost a high-stakes playoff final to DR Congo (4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in Rabat).
However, the NFF recently filed a formal petition to FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded several ineligible players who supposedly failed to formally renounce their dual citizenships (specifically those with European passports like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe).
Oliseh’s Critique
Oliseh dismissed the NFF’s move as a “desperate protest” that shifts accountability away from the team’s technical failures.
- Take Responsibility: “We failed to qualify… where it actually matters. Instead of looking in the mirror and taking responsibility, we see these desperate protests,” Oliseh said.
- Double Standards: He pointed out that DR Congo used the same players throughout their successful AFCON 2025 campaign without any issues or protests from other nations.
- The “Office” Approach: “We are trying to qualify through an office, instead of through goals, tactics, and hard work,” he concluded.
The Current Status of the Petition
FIFA is expected to deliver a verdict on the NFF’s petition in February 2026.
- If Nigeria Wins: The Super Eagles could potentially be reinstated and take DR Congo’s place in the Intercontinental Playoffs scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico.
- If Nigeria Loses: The country will officially miss back-to-back World Cups (2022 and 2026) for the first time since their debut in 1994.
