Former Super Eagles assistant coach, Simon Kalika, has expressed concern that Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup will negatively impact the tournament.

Kalika drew comparisons between Nigeria and football powerhouses like Brazil and Spain, highlighting the quality of Nigerian players.

“These players feature in top European clubs and are always a joy to watch on the world’s biggest stage, the World Cup,” Kalika said.

“Missing the World Cup is like hiding their talents under a stone, preventing the world from seeing them. That diminishes the tournament.

“Nigeria is on par with Brazil and Spain. Not having them at the World Cup affects the competition commercially and makes the games less exciting.

“Nigeria has the talent and deserves to always be part of the World Cup.”