Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi and ex-Nigeria international Sylvanus Okpala have challenged African nations to go beyond participation and seriously contend for the FIFA World Cup, insisting the continent has matured enough to fight for football’s ultimate prize.
Okpala, a member of Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON-winning squad and later assistant coach when the Super Eagles lifted the 2013 AFCON, said African football has evolved both technically and mentally, and must now focus on global domination.
“African football has matured and must now shift its mind-set to winning the World Cup rather than just participating,” Okpala said in an interview with a Lagos-based sports radio station. “In 1994, Nigeria had the quality to win, but we lacked the belief. The inferiority complex must go. The game is the same everywhere — only organization and self-belief separate the best.”
He further stressed that strong football administration and planning are key to achieving success on the global stage.
“It has to start from the top. If football administration is well organized, it trickles down to the teams. That’s when you can achieve great things,” Okpala added.
Echoing the same sentiments, Mikel Obi identified Morocco as a model nation for African football, commending their structured development across all levels — from youth to senior teams, including the women’s game.
“Right now, only Morocco looks ready to win the World Cup,” Mikel stated. “Look at how they’ve built from the junior level to the senior men’s and women’s teams — everything is structured. You can see they’re doing it right.”
The former Chelsea midfielder cited Morocco’s historic performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they became the first African team to reach the semifinals, as proof that the continent can compete with the world’s best.
“Morocco have shown it’s possible,” Mikel added. “They reached the semifinals; now the next target must be to get to the final and win it. Other African countries must follow that model plan, invest, and believe.”
Similarly, former Shooting Stars coach Duke Udi agreed that Morocco’s achievement has reset the benchmark for African football.
“Any nation that goes to the World Cup must strive to surpass Morocco’s achievement — get to the final or win it,” Udi said. “It’s been a long time Africa made an impact at the World Cup, and the only way to change that is to go beyond what Morocco achieved.”
The trio’s remarks reflect a growing call for African nations to move from potential to performance, turning belief into breakthrough at the global football stage.
