The Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are dwindling, courtesy of a winless streak and a recent defeat to the Benin Republic, which has seen them slip to fifth place in Group C. Rather than sounding the alarm, the football authorities should channel their energy into meticulous planning for the next Nations Cup and the 2030 World Cup.
When the Super Eagles were drawn alongside Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Benin, and South Africa in qualifying Group C in July 2023, Nigerian fans were initially ecstatic. However, by the end of Matchday 4 on June 11, that optimism had turned to despair. The team struggled to impress, scraping out 1-1 draws against Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa in their first three matches. To make matters worse, they suffered a shocking loss to Benin, a team that had never previously beaten Nigeria.
The Squirrels, ranked No.97 globally, turned that around on neutral ground in Ivory Coast, defeating Nigeria 2-1. The Eagles are ranked No.30. After the 1-1 draw with South Africa at home three days earlier, Nigeria crashed to fifth place.
The silver medal in the 2023 Nations Cup is now a distant memory. It was obvious in Ivory Coast that the Eagles lacked depth, finesse, and tactical nous. There was no distinct playing style.
Large sections of fans blamed head coach Finidi George. George resigned, just after the NFF told him to work under a soon-to-be-employed foreign coach. Others vented their fury on the Nigeria Football Federation and the players for their lack of passion for the green-white-green shirt. All of them are partly right, but they miss out on the big picture.
Since 2021, Nigeria have not won a World Cup qualifier. That is seven matches from the time of Gernot Rohr through a consortium of Nigerian coaches and now George. It means the malaise runs deep. The NFF should look in the mirror.
It was sheer incompetence to delay the appointment of George till April when Peseiro’s contract expired after the Nations Cup in February. Worse, the NFF blindsided Nigerians by sticking to George after the mixed results in the March friendlies against Ghana and Mali. By that time, there were misgivings about his man-management. The NFF gaffe was complete when Dan Amokachi rejected his role as an assistant to George.
For Nigeria, this is slippery territory. Between their debut at USA ’94 and Russia 2018, the Eagles missed the World Cup only once – in 2006. Disaster struck again in 2022 as the team failed to reach Qatar. Nigeria are now dangerously close to missing consecutive World Cups.
Already, Rwanda, Benin, and South Africa are on seven points apiece. Mathematically, the Eagles are playing for a maximum of 18 points in their final six qualifiers. That will give them 21 points if they win all the matches. This is football, an unpredictable sport. However, with the lethargy of the Eagles, catastrophe lies ahead.
The ineptitude of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau-led and his predecessor Amaju Pinnick weighs heavily on results. Recruiting a proper coach has been problematic. Coaches’ salaries are delayed. It is the same with players’ bonuses.
It is naïve to blame George alone. For the first time in Qatar 2022, Morocco reached the semifinals of the World Cup. The Atlas Lions achieved the feat with a Moroccan coach – Walid Redragui. Morocco are the only team that have not dropped points in the current qualifiers.
It’s unfair to single out George for blame. Let’s celebrate the historic achievement of Morocco’s Atlas Lions, who reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for the first time ever! This remarkable feat was made possible by the leadership of their talented Moroccan coach, Walid Redragui. Moreover, Morocco continues to impress in the current qualifiers.
As a result, Nigeria needs a comprehensive overhaul. A technically proficient recruitment team should be put in place to identify and scout talent in both domestic and European leagues. Many players with Nigerian eligibility are currently representing countries like Denmark, Italy, Austria, England, and Germany; the team should strive to attract the cream of the crop.
Punch
