National Teams
Mercy Akide Reacts to Super Eagles’ World Cup 2026 Qualification Miss
Former Nigeria women star Mercy Akide has attributed the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to instability within the team’s technical setup, warning that constant changes behind the scenes can derail even the most talented squads.
Nigeria will miss the World Cup for a second consecutive time after falling short in the qualification play-offs, a painful outcome for Africa’s most successful men’s national team.
While the Super Eagles showed flashes of recovery under head coach Eric Chelle, Akide believes the damage had already been done long before his appointment.
Speaking on the ATHLST Podcast, the former San Diego Spirit forward likened the situation to a kitchen overcrowded with decision-makers.
“When you have too many cooks in one pot, the soup either becomes too salty or too spicy,” Akide said, reflecting on Nigeria’s turbulent qualification campaign.
Chelle took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025 after a difficult start to the qualifiers that saw Nigeria go winless in their opening four matches under different coaches. Although the Franco-Malian tactician steadied the ship and guided the team into the play-offs, defeat to DR Congo ultimately sealed Nigeria’s fate, despite an emphatic 4–1 semi-final victory over Gabon.
Akide, who won the inaugural CAF Women’s Player of the Year award and lifted the WAFCON trophy three times with the Super Falcons, believes the revolving door of coaches disrupted team chemistry and identity.
“Before Eric came in, four different coaches were involved in trying to qualify Nigeria,” she noted. “You don’t do that to a national team. These players may be professionals at club level, but international football is about cohesion, understanding, and time together.”
She explained that limited preparation windows only worsened the situation, leaving players to rely on individual brilliance rather than collective structure.
“When players are called up one or two weeks before decisive matches, it’s not enough to build a team. They come in excited to represent the country, but without clarity or consistency in ideas, it shows on the pitch.”
Akide also criticised the tendency to dismiss coaches too quickly, arguing that frequent changes negatively affect players who need stability to perform at their best.
“Sacking a coach after two games isn’t healthy. Players respond differently to tactical systems, and constant changes make it hard for everyone to settle. Eric tried to fix things, but by then it was already too late.”
Despite the disappointment, the Super Falcons legend remains optimistic about the future of the Super Eagles, urging patience and long-term planning.
“We needed the World Cup, but it didn’t happen. If this team is given time and allowed to grow together over the next four years, people will see a different Nigeria,” Akide concluded.
