Nigeria did not qualify directly for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They competed in the CAF qualification but were eliminated in the third round by Ghana in a playoff tie. Ghana won on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate draw, meaning Nigeria did not qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

For the 2026 World Cup qualification, as of October 14, 2025, Nigeria has not directly qualified either. They finished second in their qualifying group behind South Africa and therefore must go through the CAF playoffs for a chance to qualify. Nigeria secured a playoff spot with a strong 4-0 win over Benin, but South Africa's victory over Rwanda ensured South Africa's direct qualification while Nigeria has to compete in further playoffs.