June 3, 2026
By Ayobami Okerinde
Nigeria will once again be absent from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the Super Eagles failed to qualify, marking the country’s second consecutive absence from football’s biggest stage after also missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in the African play-off final, following a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) subsequently lodged a formal protest, alleging irregularities in the issuance of passports that enabled some DR Congo players to feature in the match.
However, FIFA dismissed the petition in March, upholding the result and confirming DR Congo’s qualification for the tournament.
