Former Nigeria international Gbenga Okunowo has admitted that the Super Eagles’ absence from the FIFA World Cup continues to leave a huge void, insisting football fans around the world still expect Nigeria to be part of the global showpiece.

The former Barcelona defender described Nigeria’s failure to qualify for back-to-back World Cups as a major setback for the country’s football.

“The world still expects to see Nigeria at the World Cup,” Okunowo said.

The ex-Super Eagles star believes missing consecutive editions of football’s biggest tournament has done more than damage Nigeria’s reputation.

According to him, it has also affected the development of young players and reduced opportunities for Nigerian footballers to attract international attention.

“When Nigeria is not at the World Cup, our young players lose a massive platform to showcase themselves,” he added.

Okunowo stressed that the World Cup remains the biggest shop window in world football, with clubs and scouts closely monitoring emerging talents throughout the competition.

He warned that Nigeria’s continued absence could also affect the market value of players hoping to secure moves to Europe’s top leagues.

“It also weakens the country’s standing in world football,” he stated.

The former Barcelona full-back urged Nigerian football stakeholders to ensure the mistakes that led to consecutive World Cup qualification failures are not repeated.

Nigeria, three-time African champions, will now shift their focus towards qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and beginning preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with many hoping the Super Eagles can return to football’s biggest stage after missing the last two editions.

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