Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has expressed disappointment over the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, telling former Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo to pass a blunt message to the team that Nigerians are unhappy with them.
Wike spoke during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada-Kuje Dual Carriageway in Abuja, where Yobo was among dignitaries present.
Addressing the former defender directly, the minister said the national team had let Nigerians down by missing out on the tournament.
Wike said: “Yes, we have congratulated one of our stars, Joseph Yobo, but let me use this medium through you to tell the Super Eagles we are not happy.”
He said he deliberately refused to join others in applauding the team because of his frustration over Nigeria’s absence from the Mundial.
“So if nobody tells you that, because I saw people clapping for you, the moment they say Super Eagles, I say I won’t clap,” he said.
Wike lamented that he had been forced to spend time watching countries he barely knew compete at the World Cup while Nigeria remained absent from the global stage.
He said: “I won’t clap because I watch the World Cup, I see countries I’ve never heard of before qualifying to play World Cup and I’m sitting down for hours watching countries that I’ve not known.”
The minister also pointed to the number of players of Nigerian descent representing other countries at the tournament, describing it as painful that Nigeria failed to secure a place despite its talent pool.
“Not less than 13 Nigerians are playing all over the world, but here, we did not qualify,” Wike added.
He ended his remarks with a direct instruction to Yobo: “Yobo, go and tell them we are not happy.”
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, extending the Super Eagles’ absence from the competition after also missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.
