Former Super Eagles Captain, Sylvanus Okpalla, has warned that Nigeria stands to lose over $100 million if the national team fails to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled to hold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Okpalla, pained by Nigeria’s struggles in the qualifiers, reminded football authorities that the country had already missed the last edition in Qatar in 2022, and current standings in Group C point to another looming disaster.
He stressed that it would take nothing short of a miracle for the Eagles to qualify.
“The country is too talented to miss another edition of the global fiesta.
“Apart from the joy that participating in the World Cup would bring to Nigerians, the country stands to get $1.5 million for qualifying for the championship and an additional $9 million for getting to the group stage.” he said.
Okpalla noted that the FIFA windfall was just a fraction of what Nigeria risks losing.
“The many businesses around the World Cup are too rewarding for the country to miss again,” he warned, citing sponsorship, tourism, and global visibility as opportunities that slip away when the Eagles fail.
The ex-international did not mince words on Nigeria’s failure to reach Qatar 2022.
“We lost the right to be at the Qatar 2022 edition out of carelessness because we had no business losing to that Ghanaian team,” he fumed.
He revealed he had written to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), urging them to strengthen Austin Eguavoen’s squad.
“I warned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that Austin Eguavoen was doing well, but he needed to add just a little thing to the team to qualify for the World Cup. I wrote and volunteered to assist Eguavoen, assuring them that we’ll qualify. But they ignored me and we failed to make it,” he lamented.
Okpalla condemned the NFF’s decision to sack Eguavoen for Eric Chelle, arguing it destabilized the team.
“Removing Eguavoen and bringing in Eric Chelle was a mistake because the NFF technical director had stabilised the team and was doing well, including qualifying for the African Cup of Nations,” he said.
He added that before Chelle’s appointment, he had reached out to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, offering his expertise on a modest condition.
“I mentioned that if they felt that I was coming to collect money, they should not pay me any salary. I was ready to settle for the camp allowances they paid other staff, but with an agreement that they would pay me a certain amount when we qualified for the World Cup.” he stated.
The former Enyimba coach blasted Chelle’s tactical naivety, citing the coach’s excuse after a game against Zimbabwe.
“I was alarmed when I heard Chelle complain that he did not know that Zimbabwe would adopt a defensive approach at the last World Cup qualifier in Uyo. In war, you prepare for whatever your opponent throws at you,” Okpalla said, describing the excuse as unacceptable.
On Nigeria’s failure at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), Okpalla dismissed claims that the country’s poor league quality was responsible.
“Senegal won this championship last time. Now, are you trying to tell me that the Senegalese league is better than Nigeria’s or more recognised in Africa than the NPFL? The answer is no. It’s not about the Nigerian league. It’s about the selection of the players,” he argued.
He stressed that after spending three months with home-based players, Chelle must include at least three in his World Cup squad.
“If no home-based player is in that World Cup squad, then Chelle’s over three months stay with the local lads was a waste. Period,” he concluded.
