The Super Eagles’ qualification for the World Cup play-offs in Morocco is a narrow escape — one that must jolt everyone at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) out of their habitual complacency.
Yes, it is a relief that we still have a chance, but the bitter truth is that Nigeria should never have been in this position in the first place. The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has already exposed the deep rot, confusion, and lack of strategic planning that define our football administration.
Preparations for the play-offs must start immediately. Every necessary arrangement — from logistics to player management — must be made to ensure that the team performs optimally. This is not the time for press conferences or political photo-ops. It is the time for action, coordination, and urgency. The world is watching, and Nigeria must not embarrass itself again.
Let’s be brutally honest: our inability to qualify directly shows how disorganized we have become as a football nation. We treated the qualifiers with levity and arrogance. While other countries planned meticulously, we toyed with our chances, changed coaches midway, and displayed administrative incompetence that would shame even an amateur club. The reality is bitter, but it must be told — this crisis is man-made.
Before Eric Chelle came on board, Nigeria had two coaches — José Peseiro and Finidi George. Their tenures were monumental failures, but Finidi’s appointment remains the most regrettable mistake. The NFF gambled on a man who lacked both the tactical depth and psychological command to lead a national team of Nigeria’s calibre. The experiment failed spectacularly, and the nation paid the price.
Eric Chelle has steadied the ship to some extent, but the task ahead is herculean. To succeed, he must not be left to fight alone. The NFF must step up — not with rhetoric, but with concrete action. The issue of player bonuses, which has lingered scandalously for years, must be resolved before the play-offs. No player should go into battle for Nigeria while doubting if his allowances will ever be paid. Motivation is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
The Federal Government must also treat this qualification campaign as a matter of national importance. A Presidential Task Force should be constituted to work directly with the NFF, ensuring all resources, coordination, and morale are adequately aligned. This was done successfully in 2010, and there is no shame in repeating a working model. The stakes are too high for trial-and-error leadership.
Failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico would be catastrophic. After the painful absence from Qatar 2022, missing another Mundial would not just be a failure — it would be a psychological wound for millions of Nigerians whose only consistent source of unity and pride remains football. The Super Eagles are not just a team; they are a national identity.
This generation of players — Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Semi Ajayi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, and others — may never get another chance to shine on football’s grandest stage. To waste their prime years through administrative foolishness would be unforgivable. They have the talent, but they need a system that works.
As the play-offs in Morocco approach, there must be no excuses, no politics, and no half-measures. The NFF must ensure that the best players are called up, training camps are timely, and morale is sky-high. Every game from now on must be treated like a World Cup final. The fans are tired of failure; the players deserve better; the nation demands results.
If Nigeria fails again, history will not forgive those who turned our football into a playground for incompetence. The time to act is now — not after the damage is done. The Super Eagles must rise again, or we risk losing not just another World Cup ticket, but our football soul.
