Nigerian football is almost nothing to write home about, and even if the Super Eagles of Nigeria miraculously scale through the CAF playoffs and make it to the World Cup, it wouldn’t even save the rot that has eaten the system.
How did Nigeria get here?
Well, before now, Nigeria was the footballing pride of Africa. Winning the 1996 Olympics, shocking the world at the U-17 championships, and progressive performances at the World Cup.
Nigeria was going toe-to-toe with some of the biggest footballing nations in the world, and they were making a name for themselves. The Super Eagles of Nigeria were supposed to dominate African and if not world football in the coming years, but sadly, they haven’t lived up to that reality.
After winning the 2013 AFCON title, Nigeria’s Super Eagles ushered in a new breed of talent. Fresh, more skilled, and to an extent, more travelled. Nigeria has a repertoire of talent scattered across the top leagues in the World, and permit me to say, they haven’t had it this way.
Most of Nigeria’s national team players ply their trade in foreign countries, where they are among some of the most exciting talents ever seen. Osimhen, Boniface, Lookman, Chukwueze, Iwobi, you know their names.
But somehow this team has failed to win anything major. First, they missed out on the 2015 and 2017 AFCON tournaments. They, however, returned in 2019, finished third, crashed out in the knock-out stages im 2021, and then lost the final in 2024 to Ivory Coast.
On the World Cup stage, Nigeria were underwhelming at the 2018 World Cup before failing to qualify for the 2022 edition, and now, they have their fates up in the air for the 2026 World Cup.
A Poor Present
The current state of Nigeria’s football, especially the Super Eagles, is really poor, and the players aren’t the only ones responsible.
While the results on the pitch put blame on the players, the coaching crew has some blame as well. The NFF hasn’t exactly appointed top coaches who would help the Eagles soar.
Using the World Cup qualifiers as an example, the results under Jose Pesiero and Finidi George made it an uphill task even to qualify, and refusing to bring the best brains to the national side makes it difficult for the football to grow.
Also, administration is a huge factor. The current rot of the Nigerian National team can be attributed to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Apart from hiring amiss, the NFF is allegedly complicit in the mismanagement of funds, refusal to pay bonuses, and even match allowances.
Very recently, the Super Falcons won the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after surviving the Morocco scare in the final, and they were promised $100k as the winning prize. Reports allegedly confirm that they have yet to receive the prize.
Yesterday, the Super Eagles had to boycott training because of unpaid allowances. Now, imagine if this is the actual struggle of the top two national outfits, how do you think the others are faring?
This also joins a national outcry of mismanagement and poor administration of sports by Nigerian football fans on social media.
A Failing Future
Nigerians always hope and pray for the best, and in this instance, they might have to pray as well. But even the Bible says “prayers without works are dead,” and if nothing is done about the current situation, Nigeria is setting up for a future where football isn’t as glorious as it used to be.
A lot of work needs to be done by everyone. Winning the CAF playoffs or even qualifying for the World Cup only provides temporary succor. Countries like Morocco and Senegal are laying the groundwork for a bright future, and in Morocco’s case, you can already see it yielding results.
If care isn’t taken, Nigeria will be left in the shadows by these countries and be the footballing country that it once was.
