Nigeria will lose over $100m if they fail to qualify for 2026 World Cup -Ex-Super Eagles star

Former Super Eagles captain Sylvanus Okpala has raised concerns over the devastating financial and economic consequences Nigeria could face if the men’s national football team fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The three-time AFCON winners were absent at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after losing the playoff to rivals Ghana, and with the 2026 qualifiers already underway, Nigeria’s campaign remains shaky.

After six matches, the Super Eagles have won just one game, leaving their hopes hanging in the balance.

Okpala, who earned over 40 caps for Nigeria and was part of Stephen Keshi’s coaching crew during the AFCON 2013 triumph, warned that the country could lose over $100 million in revenue if the team misses out again.

“We lost the right to be at the Qatar 2022 edition out of carelessness because we had no business losing to that Ghanaian team,” Okpala told The Guardian.

He added, “I warned the NFF that Austin Eguavoen was doing well but needed just a little adjustment to the team. I even volunteered to assist him, but they ignored me, and we failed to make it.”

The 1980 AFCON winner revealed he also wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offering to assist current head coach Eric Chelle in the qualification campaign.

According to him, his proposal was rejected despite offering to work without salary, only to be compensated upon qualification.

Okpala stressed that the impact of missing out goes beyond football, warning that businesses, sponsorships, and tourism would all suffer major financial setbacks.

“I mentioned that if they felt I was coming to collect money, they should not pay me any salary. I was ready to accept only camp allowances like other staff, with an agreement for payment after qualification,” he explained.

“As it stands, we can still qualify; it’s not impossible. But our destiny is no longer in our hands.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will see an expanded 48-team format, but Nigeria must drastically improve if they are to avoid another costly heartbreak.