Maji Gabriel, a Nigerian filmmaker and cinematographer, explores football culture and national identity in his experimental short A World Cup Without Naija, created in anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The film responds to Nigeria’s absence from the tournament, reflecting on themes of community, support, and emotional connection. It suggests that even without national participation, the experience of the World Cup remains significant for fans.
Nigeria last qualified for the World Cup in 2018 and failed to secure a place in the 2026 edition after losing to DR Congo in the qualifiers. In a brief exchange with The Nollywood Reporter, Gabriel says the idea for the film emerges from conversations and experiences with his group of football friends.
He explains that as passionate football fans, they often react emotionally to wins and losses, whether at club or national level. He notes that the film reflects this shared emotional cycle, especially in relation to Nigeria’s absence and the broader realities surrounding the country’s football system.
A World Cup Without Naija, he adds, captures how Nigerian fans continue to engage with the tournament despite disappointment over qualification outcomes, highlighting football as a shared cultural experience that extends beyond national performance.
Gabriel says the project also serves as a space for him to explore his artistic expression as a cinematographer. “It is more of my artistic side, but I would love to expand the narrative later,” he says.
He explains that his approach to cinematography focuses on translating emotion into visual form rather than treating frames as purely aesthetic elements. According to him, audiences respond more to emotional authenticity than technical display.
“As for my approach, when I get a script, I read it in detail while still understanding the story,” he says. “I find the best possible picture to represent the emotion in the lines. We do thumbnail storyboarding to guide the process.”
He adds that cinematography, for him, is about helping audiences feel the story rather than simply observe it.
A World Cup Without Naija features Ezekiel Abayomi in a minimal cast setup and presents football as a universal language that transcends cultural, economic, and political boundaries.
