The Super Eagles of Nigeria are a talented bunch. You can’t deny that fact but somehow, this present team isn’t playing their best football and some can even argue that on the pitch, they may not be able to lace the boots of the class of 96’.
Nigeria has been home to some of the biggest talents in football history. Since Nigeria announced itself at the 1994 World Cup and 1996 Olympics, there hasn’t been a time where a Nigerian name hasn’t rocked the football world.
From the likes of Finidi George with Ajax, Kanu Nwankwo with Arsenal, Osaze Odemwingie and Yakubu Aiyegbeni in the Premier League, Taribo West, Rashidi Yekini, and of course, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nigeria has always had talent . Now, Nigerian footballers like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina are now household names.
However, this current generation has struggled where its predecessors have succeeded.
Past versions of the Super Eagles have either won a trophy or made significant progress to and at the World Cup. This current crop of players were expected to do a lot more but they haven’t lived up to that promise.
Having missed out of AFCON 2017 and crashing out at the hands of Argentina in the 2018 World Cup despite a spirited performance, the new generation of the Super Eagles began to take shape.
Fresh talents were injected into the squad and many saw the 2018 World Cup as a learning curve.
In 2019, Nigeria had their best AFCON run in a while and stars like Samuel Chukwueze and the “oyibo wall” of Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun announced themselves as the future of Nigerian football. Although Nigeria finished third, it was a sign of better things to come.
But better things didn’t come.
Despite assembling a new golden generation, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2022 World Cup after playing a 1-1 draw with Ghana in the final qualifying match and in the 2021 AFCON, where you would ordinarily expect a better performance, Nigeria crashed out in the round of 16 after winning all of their group stage matches.
At the 2024 edition of the African Cup of Nations, Nigeria were once again hit with near success syndrome. At this time, it’s safe to say Nigeria’s Super Eagles were at their peak with Osimhen recently finishing in the top 10 of the Balon d’Or and other players like Lookman, Boniface and Chukwueze equally dominating at club level.
This 2024 AFCON was a storied run. The team played like they meant it. It looked like the fourth AFCON was on its way and the first for this generation of players but they fell in the final to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Now, another tournament is on the way, the 2026 World Cup, an expanded format, and the “giants of Africa” may not participate. With two wins, five draws and one loss from seven games, Nigeria despite all their star power are way off group leaders South Africa who have one foot in America already.
With the talent available, the Super Eagles shouldn’t be making permutations and leaving their qualification to chance but they are rowing that boat again. It’s sad to see that a semi-golden generation will miss out on two World Cups. By the 2030 World Cup, if they do qualify, most of the current players may be past their prime.
The blame does go round. From the football federation, to the coaches and players themselves. A team with so much talent is yet to record any triumph, failing to live up to the promise that the football world expects from them.
