Key Points

• Pinnick says new qualification format hurt Super Eagles’ World Cup bid.

• Team faced challenges adapting to the new qualification format.

• Analysts warn format changes complicate future tournament preparations.

Amaju Pinnick, who used to be the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, said that the Super Eagles didn’t make it to the 2026 World Cup because the qualification process changed.

Pinnick said on Monday at the Big Sport Dialogue in Ikoyi that the team would have made it to the tournament if the 2018 structure had stayed the same.

Abayomi Ogunjimi, the National President of the Authentic Nigeria Football and Allied Sports Supporters Club, asked how Pinnick used his power as a former CAF first vice president and FIFA Council member to help Nigeria. This led to the discussion. Pinnick said that people who said that not making it to the World Cup was a bad thing for his time in office were wrong.

“You said we didn’t qualify under me.” He said, “We didn’t lose, and we didn’t win.” “If they had done things the same way they did in 2018, when we were in the hardest group in football history with Zambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Algeria, we would have had two games left and made it to the World Cup.”

Pinnick talks about important wins and changes

The former president talked about some of the things he did well while in office, like beating Argentina and Poland and doing well against England. He also said that he was involved in negotiating the design of the current national team jersey with Nike.

“During our time, we beat Argentina. We won against Poland in Poland. He said, “We played in England, and England had a hard time against us.” “I sat down with Nike and told them to freestyle when I saw this jersey today.”

Pinnick also stressed that Nigeria had more representation than ever before on CAF and FIFA committees while he was in charge. “During my time on the CAF Council, I had at least twenty-five Nigerians on different committees. He said, “That had never happened before,” but he also knew that some interventions are private.

People are asking for a focus on successes, not criticism

When asked if these positions led to real benefits for Nigeria, Pinnick said that some successes were better left secret. “Some things are better left unsaid.” He said, “Those who know, know,” pointing to Nigerians who are now on the FIFA ethics and media committees.

Pinnick said he will still support the team even though Nigeria won’t be in the 2026 tournament. He said that his current job as vice president of the committee for the 2026 World Cup is “not just important for Africa, but for the whole world.” He told Nigerians to focus on their successes instead of their constant criticism, saying that focussing on problems slows down progress for everyone.