Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Moses Kpakor has publicly expressed his anguish following Nigeria’s failure to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating the outcome is a source of deep pain for him and the country at large.
“Like a lot of Nigerians, I am not happy the Super Eagles will not be at the World Cup this year, and it hurts me a lot,” Kpakor told Afrik-Foot. The former shot-stopper did not conceal his frustration when reflecting on the Super Eagles’ continued absence from football’s biggest stage.
Nigeria will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup — to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — for the second successive time, a reality Kpakor regards as incompatible with the country’s standing in African football. Having been part of the generation that helped establish Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup appearance at the 1994 tournament in the United States, Kpakor views the current situation as symptomatic of deeper structural problems within Nigerian football.
The Super Eagles’ qualification campaign was marred by a poor start, with the team failing to win any of their opening four matches. A subsequent recovery — which included four victories and two draws — was enough to take Nigeria to the African play-off round. However, their campaign ultimately ended in defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo, extinguishing any remaining hope of reaching the finals.
Despite the disappointment, Kpakor urged a forward-looking approach, identifying the team’s scheduled friendlies against Portugal and Poland as meaningful opportunities to evaluate the squad against high-calibre opposition. He also highlighted the Unity Cup 2026 as a further platform for the team to restore confidence and cohesion.
“I would have preferred we qualified for the World Cup, but since that didn’t happen, we have to look forward to these games,” Kpakor said.
Nigeria’s back-to-back absences from the World Cup represent a significant low point for a nation that has appeared at the tournament six times, with their most recent participation coming at the 2018 edition in Russia. The 2026 edition will be the largest in FIFA World Cup history, expanding to 48 teams for the first time — making Nigeria’s failure to qualify all the more striking given the broadened field.
The Super Eagles are currently operating under coach Eric Chelle, who took charge following the team’s struggles in qualifying. The upcoming friendlies and the Unity Cup 2026 will be closely watched as early indicators of the direction in which the programme is heading under his tenure.
