Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi has described Nigeria’s failure to qualify for recent FIFA World Cup tournaments as one of the greatest disappointments of his career, warning that some members of the current squad may never have another chance to play on football’s biggest stage.
The FC Porto forward said missing consecutive World Cups remains a painful experience for players, given the prestige and rarity of the global tournament.
Moffi urged teammates and supporters to fully appreciate the significance of World Cup qualification, noting that opportunities to compete at the tournament are not guaranteed.
He stressed that with the competition held every four years, several players currently in the national team could be approaching the twilight of their careers by the time the 2030 FIFA World Cup is staged.
“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,” Moffi said. “We’ve missed two World Cups now. It’s devastating for the fans, but even more so for us.”
The striker admitted that age and competition from younger talents could make it difficult for many current players to remain in contention by 2030.
“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.”
Despite the disappointment, Moffi remains optimistic that Nigeria can begin a new chapter under Chelle, with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations now emerging as a major target for the squad.
