Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against Portugal, Moffi reflected on the painful reality of missing back-to-back FIFA World Cups and admitted that the consequences could stretch far beyond the present generation of players.
The forward acknowledged that the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 tournament remains difficult to accept, especially given the quality within the Super Eagles squad.
The FC Porto striker stressed that while Nigeria will have another opportunity to qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, many members of the current squad may no longer be part of the national team setup by then.
Nigeria’s failure to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup means several top stars could end their international careers without ever appearing on football’s biggest stage.
Players such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey are currently among Africa’s finest talents, yet they face the prospect of waiting until 2030 for another shot at World Cup glory.
For Moffi, the setback serves as a harsh reminder of how unforgiving international football can be.
Despite the disappointment, the former Lorient striker remains optimistic that the Super Eagles can rebuild, learn from their mistakes, and return stronger in the years ahead.
Nigeria’s immediate focus will now shift towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and laying the foundation for a successful 2030 World Cup qualifying campaign.
That’s what the fans don’t understand. The World Cup is every four years, and not everyone gets to be a part of that,” the ex-Lorient striker said in an interview with AY Suga.
“We’ve missed two World Cups now. It’s devastating for the fans, but even more so for us.
“I’m 27 now, in the next World Cup I’ll be 31, and most of the squad will be in their 30’s as well. It’s almost impossible for us to be there if we’re being totally honest.
“Young players will come in. The oldest in the squad right now is Semi [32], so, going by that, it’ll be quite difficult.
“For some of us, we might have to watch from home. How do we tell our children that we had two chances to be at the World Cup and we didn’t take it?
“It’s horrible to think about,” Terem Moffi concluded.
The three-time African champions will hope that the painful lessons from the failed 2026 qualification bid can inspire a new era of consistency and success on the international stage.
