Deputy Chairman of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams Competition Committee and former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will not only qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup but also emerge as a force to reckon with at the tournament.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, Pinnick said Nigerian football remained on a positive trajectory despite the disappointment of missing a second successive World Cup.
Reflecting on the country’s failure to secure a place at the 2026 tournament, the former NFF boss described the setback as one of the most painful moments of his career.
“It really gets into me, you know, because is one of my saddest moments where we didn’t qualify when I was president and not qualified again,” he said.
Pinnick, however, said the efforts of the current NFF leadership and increased activity around the national teams had strengthened his belief that the country was moving in the right direction.
“The NFF right now, if you know what they are doing, they’ve been playing matches consistently. And aside just this game, which is also some display of good football artistry, they’ve occupied themselves, and that is a turning point.”
According to him, the foundation of any successful football federation lies in the performance of the senior men’s national team, and he believes the Super Eagles now possess the ingredients needed for sustained success.
“Now the bedrock of any football federation is, one, your national team, your male national team. And I believe you know that we are getting it right. We have a coach, we have a football, we have a team, and we have young enterprising players.”
Pinnick also highlighted emerging talents being tracked by the NFF, singling out Brighton-bound youngster Yohanna as one for the future.
“Then watch out for Yohanna. I personally did a review on him, the Yohanna boy that has gone to Brighton. That’s the future. The NFF is monitoring him, they’re talking to him.
“So the future looks very good.”
Looking ahead to the next World Cup cycle, Pinnick made a bold prediction about Nigeria’s prospects.
“I want to believe we are not just going to qualify for the next World Cup, that I can say, we are going to make a very prominent presence.”
He also tipped the Super Eagles to mount a serious challenge for the next Africa Cup of Nations title.
“The next Nations Cup is ours, by God’s grace.”
Pinnick stressed that achieving success would require unity and continued support for Nigerian football, adding that he remained committed to contributing to the country’s development through the sport.
“Whatever we need this country, a greater country is what I stand for any day.”
Nigeria will miss the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, after failing to progress from the African qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles are now expected to focus on rebuilding ahead of the 2030 World Cup and the next Africa Cup of Nations.
