As a record 10 African nations prepare to compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States, Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to secure a place at the tournament.
The African representatives at the global showpiece include Algeria, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
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Despite being regarded as one of Africa’s football heavyweights, Nigeria will miss the World Cup for a second consecutive edition after falling short in the qualification playoffs against DR Congo.
Reflecting on the development, the FC Porto full-back described Nigeria’s absence from the expanded tournament as unfortunate, insisting the country belongs among Africa’s representatives on the world stage.
“It doesn’t feel right to have 10 African teams at the World Cup without Nigeria being one of them,” Sanusi said.
“Unfortunately, it has happened, but we must make sure it does not happen again. Nigeria has always been regarded as a giant of African football, and we need to reclaim our place and make a stronger statement in future competitions.”
The defender is also looking forward to the Super Eagles’ upcoming international friendly against Portugal after featuring in the second half of Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with Poland earlier this week.
According to Sanusi, the match carries special significance because of his long association with Portuguese football through his club career.
“In a way, it will feel like playing at home for me. Hopefully, we can secure a positive result that will boost the team’s confidence moving forward,” he added.
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