'The whole Board have to go' - Mikel tears into NFF after Super Eagles' draw against Bafana Bafana

Nigeria's chances of qualifying for the 2026 Fifa World Cup were dealt a major setback following a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday evening, leaving the Super Eagles' fate out of their hands.

After the matchday eight fixtures, the Super Eagles find themselves third in the provisional standings with 11 points, six behind pacesetters Bafana Bafana.

Former Super Eagles captain captain John Obi Mikel has voiced his frustration over the team's precarious situation, warning that the nation could miss out on football's biggest tournament for the second time in a row.

"We didn't qualify for Qatar last World Cup and now it looks like again we are not going to make it. Horrible, horrible, horrible situation to be in," Mikel said on The Obi One Podcast.

Reflecting on the draw and the wider qualifying campaign, Mikel admitted that automatic qualification was no longer in Nigeria's control.

"Where do I start? We have two games left, automatic qualification is gone. South Africa have taken that spot, so it's between us and Benin with two games left. 

"We are third on the table, I don't blame the players. The players have to take responsibility of the situation but are you going to blame the players alone? 

"We talk about it so many times, that's why you have people disrespect the African continent."

The former Chelsea midfielder directed his strongest criticism at the Nigeria Football Federation, insisting that poor leadership has undermined the national team.

"The people that run our football back home in Nigeria need to be accountable for what's happening. They have no clue what it's like to get a top football player that plays in Europe to be able to perform.

"I have been there. Sometimes when they are talking to you, you look at them. You can't tell them what to do on the pitch.

"Sometimes these players like a voice of somebody they can listen to, who's been there, done it.

"Jay-Jay Okocha is talking to me, I'll listen. Kanu Nwankwo is talking to me, I'll listen, because he knows what he's talking about.

"You need these people to be in the game because they've done it, they know what it feels like to bring out the best of these players."

Mikel further questioned whether the NFF creates the right environment for the Super Eagles to succeed.

"Yes, I'll blame the players but it starts from the top. What do you do as a Federation to make the players perform the way they perform with their clubs?

"They are motivated the way they perform at their football club. Do you make the environment comfortable for them to perform? Do you provide for them what they need to perform?

"I look at them sometimes, they don't look motivated because the surrounding and everything around it is not right.

"I was there for so many years, I know what's going on, and I know how those things can be fixed very easily.

"You need to have the right people running our football in Africa, especially the Nigerian national team."

With Nigeria facing the real prospect of missing out on consecutive World Cups, Mikel urged sweeping changes at the top level of Nigerian football.

"We have so much quality, how do you motivate these players, this is the question. They need to be motivated.

"I feel for the country of Nigeria because they are going to be devastated again for the second time running, we are not going to qualify for the World Cup."

When asked what should happen if the Super Eagles fail to secure qualification, Mikel replied: "If we don't make it to the World Cup, I just feel the whole Board of the NFF have to go. 

"They have to go if we don't qualify for the World Cup. It's not acceptable twice in a row we are not going to qualify for the World Cup. We are the biggest footballing country in Africa.

"Something is wrong, a drastic change has to be done. If the government has to get involved, they have to get involved because it's not acceptable. 

"Yes, the players have to take responsibility but the biggest problem is from the top."

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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