Simon Kalika, a Dutch coach, expressed his profound regret at Nigeria’s inability to earn a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Kalika, the Super Eagles’ absence from the biggest football festival will be a significant setback for the competition.
For the second time in a row, one of Africa’s most well-known footballing nations will not participate in the finals, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Kalika finds it even more difficult to accept this loss because of the caliber of the present team. He thinks Nigeria has some of the best attacking players in Africa, players who might have lit up the international scene.
Stanley Nwabali is recognized as one of the best goalkeepers on the continent, and Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen were named African Footballer of the Year in 2024 and 2023, respectively. At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey also attracted attention.
Many of these celebrities, aside from Iwobi and Ndidi, have never participated in a World Cup and have now missed two consecutive ones.
