World Cup absence would be ‘total disaster’ for Nigerian Football – Ahmed Musa

By Dayo Awoniyi

Nigeria captain, Ahmed Musa, has raised alarm, warning that failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup would be a devastating blow for Nigerian football.

Speaking in Ilorin, Musa emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that such an absence would not only harm the country’s footballing reputation but also hinder the potential of a whole generation of talented players.

He added that it would severely impact the confidence of emerging football stars.

“The Super Eagles are in a very difficult situation right now, but we believe in ourselves that we can still scale through,” Musa said.

“The Super Eagles cannot be absent from the 2026 World Cup. It is going to be a big disaster for Nigerian players not to be at the World Cup.”

Currently, the Super Eagles sit fifth in Group C, trailing behind South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Benin. However, Musa remains optimistic, believing the team can turn their fortunes around, starting with their next crucial match against Rwanda.

“The important game is Rwanda. If we can get the three points from that match, it’s going to be a turning point for us,” Musa noted. “But it is not just a job for the Super Eagles alone. Every Nigerian must be involved because we need their support.”

Musa also took the opportunity to commend his teammate, Taiwo Awoniyi, for his generous contribution to building a functional secretariat for the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Ilorin.

“I want to say a very big thank you to my younger brother, Taiwo Awoniyi, for this magnificent building he has built for SWAN. Every footballer needs to learn from what Awoniyi has done,” Musa said.

Currently in Ilorin for an NPFL match against Kwara United with his club, Kano Pillars, Musa also praised the improvements seen in the Nigerian football league.

“This is not my first time playing in the Nigerian league. Back in the days, you could never go to an away game and win, like you saw in the match between Lobi and Ikorodu United, where the home team lost to the Lagos side,” Musa remarked, acknowledging the growing strength of the domestic league.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

See Full Bio