2026 FIFA World Cup: Why Ekong’s Reason for Missing the Super Eagles Is Valid

Former Super Eagles defender William Troost‑Ekong says the pain of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup still lingers as the tournament approaches, Afrik Foot reports.

Despite fielding one of Africa’s most talented squads, the Super Eagles will not travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico after a heartbreaking playoff defeat to DR Congo on penalties last November.

For the 32‑year‑old ex‑captain, the disappointment runs deeper. He reflected on Nigeria’s failed qualification campaign, admitting the World Cup would likely have been his last chance to play on football’s biggest stage.

“It would’ve been the last chance for me as well,” Ekong said in an interview with Al‑Jazeera English.

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost‑Ekong and coach Eric Chelle. Copyright: xKarpushevxIMAGO

What Ekong said about Nigeria’s World Cup failure

According to the former Greek Super League winner, Nigeria’s downfall did not begin in the playoffs against DR Congo; the damage was inflicted much earlier.

The Super Eagles earned only three points from a possible twelve in their first four matches.

“We lost a lot of momentum from the start of the qualification, dropped a lot of points, so we were just playing catch‑up,” William Troost‑Ekong explained.

By the time Eric Chelle was appointed in January 2025, the three‑time African Champions were no longer in control of their own destiny and needed near‑perfect results to keep their hopes alive. Still, Ekong praised the coach’s impact.

“I think from the moment that Eric Chelle came in, the coach who’s in charge now, he did a fantastic job to put us back on track to get us to the play‑offs.”

Friendly match between Poland and Nigeria in Warsaw, Coach Eric Chelle. Photo by Icon Sport

Why Ekong’s argument makes sense

Successful World Cup qualification campaigns are usually built on continuity. Teams such as Morocco, Senegal and Argentina have benefited from stable coaching structures, long‑term planning and a clearly defined football identity.

Nigeria experienced the opposite. Multiple coaching changes during the qualifiers forced players to adapt to new ideas, systems and expectations in very little time.

Ekong’s comments carry extra weight because he did not shift blame elsewhere. Instead, he openly acknowledged the collective failure.

Super Eagles. Copyright: ImagoxGrzegorzxWajdax

Reflecting on the playoff loss, the defender admitted it was “tough for everyone,” but he still believes the current squad has a bright future.

“I think the exciting part is that we have so many players who will still be a part of the team in four years.”

With stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi expected to remain key figures, the foundation for the future is already in place.

Meanwhile, Eric Chelle has introduced younger players like Femi Azeez, Emmanuel Fernandez, Tochukwu Nnadi and Abdullahi Bewene to balance experience and age within the squad, which is why Ekong’s plea for patience with the Franco‑Malian tactician is important.

Troost Ekong during the final between Cote D’Ivoire vs Nigeria at the 34th edition of AFCON. Copyright: ImagoxAdeniyixMuyiwax

After years of instability, Nigeria’s path back to the World Cup may depend less on finding new stars and more on giving the current coach the stability that Jose Peseiro and Finidi George didn’t have.