Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has called on Nigerian football authorities to begin preparations early for the 2030 FIFA World Cup after the national team failed to secure a place at the 2026 tournament.

Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the global showpiece were dashed after a painful penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final round of the African qualifiers.

The result extended the Super Eagles’ absence from the World Cup, with their last appearance coming at the 2018 edition in Russia.

Reacting to the disappointment, Troost-Ekong said the setback should serve as a wake-up call rather than a reason for despair. He believes the experience highlights the need for long-term planning and improved organisation if Nigeria is to avoid another qualification failure.

The defender stressed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must carefully evaluate what went wrong during the qualification campaign and introduce a clear strategy that will put the team in a stronger position ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

According to him, the Super Eagles possess enough quality to compete with the best teams in the world, but success can only be achieved through proper preparation, consistency and effective management.

Troost-Ekong added that learning from recent disappointments is essential if Nigeria hopes to reclaim its place on football’s biggest stage.

He remains optimistic that with the right decisions and commitment from all stakeholders, the Super Eagles can qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and restore confidence among their supporters.