'Your Sins Have Been Forgiven': Wike Says Super Eagles Promise World Cup Return

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike says members of Nigeria's senior men's national football team, the Super Eagles, have assured him they will qualify for the next FIFA World Cup after missing the 2026 tournament.

Wike made the remarks on Friday while commissioning roads linking the Mabushi Bus Terminal to Ahmadu Bello Way in Abuja, where he acknowledged former Super Eagles stars Joseph Yobo and Emmanuel Babayaro.

According to the minister, Yobo informed him that his message of disappointment over Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup had been conveyed to the current squad.

"I want to announce to this audience that Joseph Yobo told me yesterday that they have communicated our message to the Super Eagles," Wike said.

"They have told him that this will be the last time such a mistake will occur, that in the subsequent World Cup, Nigeria will be there. So their sins have been forgiven."

The comments came two days after Wike openly criticised the Super Eagles for failing to secure a place at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada-Kuje Road earlier this week, Wike told Yobo he deliberately withheld applause because he was disappointed with the team's failure to qualify.

"We are not happy," the minister said.

"I watch the World Cup. I see countries I have never heard of before qualifying to play in the World Cup, and I am sitting down for hours watching countries that are completely unknown."

He added that despite Nigeria boasting several internationally recognised players competing in Europe's top leagues, the team failed to book a place at football's biggest tournament.

Nigeria's qualification campaign ended after the Super Eagles lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the final of the African play-off, missing one of the continent's additional slots at the FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs.

The Super Eagles had earlier failed to secure an automatic qualification ticket from their group before earning a second chance through the play-offs, where their campaign eventually came to an end.

Nigeria, three-time African champions, have featured at six FIFA World Cups since making their debut in 1994 but will miss consecutive editions for the first time after also failing to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.