This is a particularly influential World Cup to sit out

The loss is not only historical but consequential. Nigeria will miss out on developmental funding with next year’s prize fund expected to rise from the previous tournament four years ago. In 2023 the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, pledged to equal the men’s and women’s tournaments prize funds by 2027. The figure for the men’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico was $727m (roughly £539m). Recent news suggest Fifa will miss out on its target but it is nevertheless a blow for Nigeria not to be involved.