'Worst Time in History': Nigerian Legend Odegbami Tears Into Football Chiefs After Double World Cup Disaster

Nigerian football is staring into the abyss, and one of its greatest ever players says the blame lies squarely at the feet of those running the game. Segun Odegbami, the winger affectionately known as 'Mathematical' who inspired Nigeria to their first Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 1980, has pulled no punches in his assessment of the current crisis, telling BBC Sport the country is enduring the 'worst time in history' for its football. His scathing verdict comes after a qualification campaign of unprecedented failure. The Super Eagles, once a fixture on football's grandest stage, will miss the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — a second consecutive absence following their failure to reach Qatar 2022, and only the third time since 1994 that Nigeria will watch the tournament from the sidelines. The men's disappointment has been compounded by an even more shocking collapse on the women's side. The Super Falcons, who had qualified for every Women's World Cup since the competition began in 1991, will be absent from the 2025 edition after a stunning qualification exit, ending a run of ever-present participation that spanned nine tournaments. For Odegbami, the double failure represents more than a sporting setback — it is symptomatic of deep-rooted dysfunction within the corridors of power at the Nigeria Football Federation. The 63-year-old has directed his fury not at players or coaches, but at the administrators he believes have presided over a systematic decline of one of Africa's proudest footballing nations. With a population exceeding 200 million and a conveyor belt of talent plying their trade across Europe's top leagues, Nigeria's absence from back-to-back World Cups defies logic. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze represent just a fraction of the calibre of player available — making the failure to convert that wealth of talent into results all the more damning. Odegbami's intervention carries weight. Beyond his legendary playing career, he has remained one of the game's most respected and outspoken voices in Nigeria, and his willingness to publicly challenge the federation's leadership reflects growing national frustration. As attention turns to the 2026 tournament kicking off in North America, Nigerian fans face the sobering reality of another summer supporting other nations. The pressing question now is whether Odegbami's stinging criticism will trigger meaningful reform — or become simply another footnote in a story of squandered potential. This article is based on reporting by BBC Sport.