Super Eagles 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: NFF’s missteps and a nation’s sinking hope 

By Jacob Ajom

The latest FIFA rankings for nationalist teams shows that Nigeria’s Super Eagles person dropped 1 spot to 45th. The driblet is simply a nonstop reflection of the authorities of shot successful Nigeria. This has intensified concerns astir their faltering bid to suffice for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The autumn marks Nigeria’s lowest presumption successful 5 years and has seen them overtaken by reigning African champions Côte d’Ivoire, who present beryllium 44th.

A wide consciousness of vexation pervades the land. The fans are despondent and stakeholders are wondering what dragged Nigeria shot to this level of continental and planetary insignificance. It’s astir definite to suggest that for the 2nd consecutive World Cup, the Nigerian emblem won’t beryllium fluttering among different nations’ successful the skies of Canada, Mexico and the USA, erstwhile the adjacent variation of the Mundial kicks disconnected adjacent year. For Nigeria, a state that had built a frightening estimation successful planetary shot to miss 2 successive World Cup tournaments, adjacent with the expanded format leaves overmuch to beryllium desired. 

Little wonderment truthful that calls for a full overhaul of the Nigeria Football Federation are increasing louder by the time arsenic the Super Eagles show successful the qualifiers is simply a nonstop scale of the magnitude of professionalism – oregon deficiency of it, enactment successful by those moving shot successful the country. Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying run began with a 1-1 location gully with Lesotho, a 1-2 nonaccomplishment to the Republic of Benin successful Ivory Coast, and a triumph against Rwanda 2-0 successful Kigali. Back astatine Uyo they drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe and a triumph against Rwanda and different back-breaking 1-1 gully with South Africa. That gully near Nigeria’s qualification anticipation hanging successful the balance.

South Africa tops the radical with 17 points, pending FIFA’s determination connected their arguable usage of an ineligible player. The Cheetahs of Benin are adjacent connected 14 points portion Nigeria and Rwanda are connected 11 points but the Super Eagles person a superior extremity difference. Even if FIFA deducts points from the Bafana Bafana, Benin mightiness crook retired the apt beneficiary. So, Nigeria’s lone anticipation lies successful picking the 2nd spot. Yet determination is nary warrant that the Eagles tin execute that arsenic South Africa are inactive precise beardown contenders for the World Cup ticket. Apart from contention from their group, determination are galore second-placed teams successful different groups with higher points than the Super Eagles. Only 4 volition beryllium chosen for the playoff. 

Where did Nigeria get it wrong? 

Most observers judge that the Nigeria Football Federation should ain up and admit that they person failed the federation again aft being absent astatine the Qatar World Cup successful 2022. It indispensable beryllium reckoned that the Super Eagles person been nether the 3rd manager successful the qualifiers. They began with Peseiro, Finidi past Chelle. The level of instability successful the method unit unsocial could person worked against the team. They accidental excessively galore cooks spoil the broth. Nothing could beryllium truer than this. 

Veteran sports journalist, Ejiro Omonode said, “When Peseiro left, a Finidi came and didn’t get the required support. He was called for a gathering with the NFF and was promised everything. But earlier helium arrived astatine Port Harcourt airport, quality broke that helium had been relegated to the presumption of ceremonial caput manager and a German was coming to brag him. Now that the qualifiers are astir implicit we are bringing retired calculators to make imaginary chances. Those who are superior astir the World Cup acceptable retired early.

Imagine Nigeria struggling with the likes of the Republic of Benin Rwanda and truthful forth.” The recruitment of coaches by the Nigeria Football Federation has been a precise adjacent secret. Each recruitment workout is fraught with deception arsenic the nationalist is made to judge everything is okay. After asking qualified individuals to apply, the interviews and eventual engagement are apical secrets. From the recruitment of Gernot Rohr to Jose Peseiro and present Eric Chelle it has been wide that each of them came to fulfill vested involvement of immoderate almighty members of the NFF board. Omonode said, “This inactive boils down to administration.

There are radical who person interests successful definite candidates. Like this Mali guy, I cognize determination are astir 2 ex-internationals successful the NFF who brought him arsenic their preferred campaigner whether connected merit oregon not.” Discerning members of the nationalist volition hold with Omonode arsenic the Malian receives precise beardown backing from immoderate members of the NFF board, contempt his a...