Abuja, NIGERIA – Prominent political leaders and former presidential candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi, have lauded the standout performances of African nations at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, while using the moment to reflect on Nigeria’s failure to qualify.
The statements followed a historic weekend in the tournament, highlighted by Morocco’s dominant 3-0 victory over Canada to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Okay News reports that Atiku praised the Atlas Lions on Sunday for lifting the hopes of the entire continent, stating that the North African side has once again proved that African football firmly belongs on the world’s biggest stage.
In a detailed commentary, Labor Party leader Peter Obi offered “special congratulations” to tournament overachievers Cape Verde. Highlighting statistical contrasts, Obi noted that Cape Verde—with a tiny landmass and a population of roughly 550,000 (about 200,000 fewer residents than the city of Ogbomoso)—managed to comfortably scale through to the tournament’s knockout phase. Obi emphasized that the island nation’s run proves greatness is determined by rigorous planning and disciplined execution rather than population size.
Both opposition figures expressed disappointment over the Super Eagles’ absence from the global showpiece. Obi argued that Nigeria’s omission is not due to a lack of raw athletic talent, but rather the direct consequence of systemic issues, weak sports administration, and leadership failure. The political leaders urged national stakeholders to draw critical lessons from the tournament, maintaining that structural reforms, institutional strength, and a culture of meritocracy could easily restore Nigeria as a global success story both on and off the pitch.
