Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has admitted he does not want Nigeria at the 2026 World Cup, even as the country waits on FIFA’s ruling over their eligibility protest against DR Congo, Footynaija reports.
Nigeria’s case stems from their penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo last November, which ended their shot at the intercontinental play-offs.
The NFF filed a protest with FIFA on December 15, arguing that DR Congo fielded some ineligible players whose nationality switch process were still incomplete at the time of the game.
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FIFA has not yet communicated a verdict to either federation, despite widespread reports claiming otherwise.
Sodje’s admission
With qualification possibly back on the table through the boardroom, most Nigerians would take it any way it comes. Sodje however sees it differently.
The former Reading and Hull City man believes a reprieve from FIFA would only delay a reckoning that Nigerian football badly needs to have with itself.
“I think we should move forward. If FIFA’s decision works in our favour, so be it. But to tell you the truth, I don’t want us to qualify,” the ex-defender said via a report by Pulse Sports.
“I don’t want it because we need to see how bad our football has become. I am not looking forward to it. But because I am Nigerian, I want to see FIFA’s decision go our way. Personally, though, I am hoping we don’t go.”
His argument is that back-door qualification would paper over deep cracks in Nigerian football, from poor governance and planning to the constant managerial upheaval that has become routine at the NFF.
None of that gets fixed by a FIFA ruling, and Sodje believes the pain of missing a World Cup on home soil in North America might be the only thing strong enough to force real change.
