NDC Presidential candidate, Peter Obi
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has said Cape Verde’s impressive performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria, arguing that the country’s failure to qualify for the tournament reflects years of poor leadership and weak institutions.
In a post on X on Sunday, Obi congratulated all African countries that represented the continent at the World Cup, while reserving special praise for Cape Verde for reaching the knockout stage despite its small size and population.
He noted that Cape Verde has a landmass of about 4,033 square kilometres and a population of roughly 550,000 people, yet managed to compete successfully on the global stage.
According to him, “Cape Verde has once again demonstrated that greatness is not determined by size or population, but by planning and disciplined execution. When systems work, even the smallest nations can compete with the best in the world.”
Obi argued that Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup was not due to a shortage of football talent but was instead the result of poor governance over the years.
“Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup is not a consequence of a lack of talent. It is the result of years of poor administration, weak institutions, and leadership that has consistently failed to build sustainable systems,” he wrote.
The former Anambra State governor said the lesson for Nigeria is to prioritise good leadership, strengthen institutions, reward merit over connections and improve planning and execution across all sectors.
He concluded with an optimistic message, saying, “A new Nigeria is POssible … and Nigeria will be OK.”
