The three-time Africa champions have made six appearances at football’s biggest fiesta, making it to the knockout rounds on three occasions
Former Nigerian international striker Samson Siasia has rubbished claims that the Super Eagles would have excelled at the 2026 FIFA World Cup that just ended in Qatar.
A Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina defeated France in Sunday’s final to lift the country’s third-ever world title and a first since 1986.
But the Argentines were not the only success story in Qatar, with several African teams giving fans some memorable moments.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon claimed a first-ever win over Brazil while Tunisia stunned defending champions France. But both teams failed to make it past the group stage.
Senegal and Morocco did better, reaching the Round of 16 where the Teranga Lions lost to England.
Morocco’s Atlas Lions, however, set a new record for African countries as they reached the semifinals after shocking Spain and Portugal.
With the success of the CAF representatives, many observers, including Super Eagles goalkeeper John Noble, have suggested that Nigeria would have outshone other Africans in Qatar.
But former Nantes forward Samson Siasia is not sold on that analysis, for a team that could not beat Ghana and got thrashed by Portugal in a friendly.
The Rio Olympics gold medal-winning coach is convinced that the Super Eagles would have been the whipping boys at the World Cup.
“We would have been embarrassed out of the World Cup with shocking score lines,” Siasia told FL.
“The Super Eagles have no business going to the world cup and losing out to the Ghana team we played against is enough proof.”
Siasia was a member of the Super Eagles squad that lifted the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and qualified Nigeria for a first World Cup appearance in the United States.
This post was last modified on December 20, 2022 1:36 pm