Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has issued a passionate plea to Nigeria’s national team as they prepare for two decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast with Chris McHardy, Mikel urged the players to put aside all off-field distractions and take full responsibility for securing qualification.
The Super Eagles, who have arrived in Polokwane ahead of Friday’s clash with Lesotho before hosting Benin Republic in Uyo, sit three points behind Benin and South Africa.
With Nigeria’s World Cup dream hanging by a thread, the next two games will decide whether the team can keep their hopes alive.
Mikel calls for leadership as World Cup hopes hang in the balance
Mikel, one of Nigeria’s most decorated footballers and a former national team captain, didn’t mince words.
He described the final two group matches as a “shootout” and called on the players to set aside their frustrations with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and focus on the pitch.
“Our World Cup fate is in the players’ hands,” Mikel said. “Forget the politics, forget the distractions — win your two games and qualify. Nigerians are counting on you.”
The 37-year-old reminded the squad that he had played at every level — U17, U20, U23, Olympics, and the senior team — and understood the pressures they face.
He stressed that true leadership means rising above off-field issues and delivering when it matters most.
Super Eagles face do-or-die mission in Lesotho and Uyo
Nigeria’s qualification bid has faltered after a string of draws, including a disappointing result against Lesotho.
Now, with only two matches remaining in the group phase, the Super Eagles must defeat both Lesotho and Benin Republic to give themselves a shot at topping the group or, at the very least, advancing to the playoffs.
Mikel expressed confidence in the squad’s quality, pointing to the depth in defence, midfield, and attack — including the return of Nigeria’s top striker currently in prolific form in Turkey.
“We have everything,” Mikel insisted. “Great defenders, midfielders, attackers — no excuses. We just need to win these two games.”
A rallying cry for unity and focus
The Super Eagles have been criticised for inconsistency, but Mikel’s words serve as a rallying cry.
He urged the players to hold internal meetings, motivate each other, and remember that 270 million Nigerians are behind them.
“We love our football. We love, absolutely love, our football. It’s going to be a crime. Absolutely crime if Nigeria do not make it for the second time in a row to the World Cup. I don’t know if it’s ever happened.”
A win against Lesotho would not only keep Nigeria’s qualification hopes alive but also restore faith among fans who have grown frustrated with recent performances.
Nigeria’s struggle to qualify comes after missing out on the 2022 World Cup, an absence that still stings for a football-mad nation.
With the expanded 2026 tournament offering more African spots, failure to qualify would be seen as a massive setback.
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