Football analyst, Uche Ofor has criticised the recently released Super Eagles squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs in Morocco, describing the omission of Paul Onuachu and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro as “a costly oversight” that could affect Nigeria’s attacking balance and midfield creativity.
Speaking in a post-analysis on Saturday, Ofor said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the technical crew appeared to have ignored form and performance in selecting the 24-man list. “It’s difficult to understand how a striker like Onuachu, who has scored seven league goals this season for Trabzonspor and just won the Turkish Super Lig Player of the Month award, could be dropped at a time Nigeria needs clinical finishers,” he said.
Ofor argued that the decision to omit Onuachu was especially baffling considering the team’s struggle to convert chances in previous fixtures. “Osimhen is world-class, no doubt, but you can’t go into a playoff with only one traditional striker of his profile. Onuachu provides aerial strength, physical presence, and a proven scoring instinct — the kind of player that can change a game in tight contests,” he added.
The analyst also questioned the absence of young Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, who plays for Pisa on loan from Inter Milan in Italy’s Serie A. “Akinsanmiro has been outstanding this season — energetic, creative, and fearless. Leaving him out denies the team a midfield option that can connect defence and attack seamlessly,” Ofor stated, adding that his inclusion would have been “a forward-thinking move” for the squad’s long-term development.
He further urged the NFF to make squad selection more transparent and merit-based, noting that several players who have seen limited club action still made the list. “We keep repeating the same mistakes — picking names instead of form. The world has moved past sentiment; only those performing at the highest level should represent the country,” he said.
Ofor warned that such selection decisions could haunt the Super Eagles in Morocco. “This is not the time for experiments. Every slot should count because qualification for the World Cup is non-negotiable. Nigeria cannot afford another failure after missing the 2022 edition,” he added.
