The Super Eagles' 1-1 draw against South Africa has seen them grasping for straws in their fight for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup…
Ex-Super Eagles and Maccabi Haifa defender Eric Ejiofor is certain Nigeria will not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Eric Chelle‘s side are currently six points behind South Africa on the qualification table with two games left to play.
Barring any miracle, the Super Eagles are assured of missing another Mundial after narrowly missing the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Ejiofor racked up 14 caps for Nigeria during his playing days and has expressed his shock at how terrible the start to the qualifying campaign was.
“How do we want to qualify for the World Cup? Where is the opportunity? We didn’t use it,” the former Enyimba International defender said in quotes revealed by Brila.
“When the chance is very slim, we want to start hoping and praying. From day one, we weren’t serious about it.
“I don’t think the players understand they are competing to play in the World Cup. It is so sad because their attitude towards the game isn’t encouraging.
“Many of them haven’t gone to the World Cup in their career, and this would have been the first time. I don’t know what they were thinking.
World Cup absence might affect Super Eagles – Ejiofor
The 45-year-old mentioned that a World Cup participation adds experience to players' careers and bags them bigger club contracts.
With a spot in the 2026 Mundial on tight ropes, Ejiofor mentioned another generation of talented Nigerian players might not reap the dividends of what playing in a World Cup brings.
“Let’s remove the aspect of the Nigerian Football Federation, we know they have their own issues, but you, the player, must think about your future and career. Most players get big contracts after the World Cup.
“Imagine the attitude of coming to the team camp, some enter on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to just do only two trainings, and you want to play a match. It’s not possible, and you don’t work like that.
“Football is teamwork, we aren’t playing as a team, and I won’t keep my hope. I have already removed from my mind the idea that we will go to the World Cup.
“Imagine the two games, how are we sure we can win them? Remember, we had a few games earlier, and we had hoped for good outcomes to keep us in contention.”
“Apart from what the coach tells you to do, you must establish yourself on the pitch and say this is our home. You can imagine this, our last game against Rwanda, was our first home win.
“If they surprise me, good, but the way people are hopeful, it’s not me; I won’t disturb myself.
“Look at South Africa, the coach has been there for almost five years. He knows how to organise his team, and the players understand what to do.”
NFF holds the blame
More Nigerian Internationals like Osaze Odemwingie and Peterside Idah are coming out of their shell to call for accountability from the Nigerian football federation due to the horrid experience of the qualifying campaign.
The Super Eagles have had three coaches – Eric Chelle, Finidi George and Jose Peseiro in charge of the qualifiers, and Ejiofor believes a lack of tactical style and suitability affected the results on the pitch.
“This is the aspect of the NFF; they are always changing coaches. It’s not easy for the players to adapt and play as a team.
“You must have a structure to win. If you like, bring 11 Messi, they will not win because football is teamwork. We put ourselves in this situation; there is nothing we can do.
“Let’s play it like that, anything we can do, we will. It’s so sad.
“We shouldn’t have lost against the Benin Republic. Remember, we scored first and we lost the match 2-1, that’s not meant to happen at your home. Zimbabwe, we played a draw against them at home.
“Imagine if we can’t beat all those teams, we don’t merit qualifying. Throughout the group, we have been struggling to score goals,” the former Shooting Stars defender concluded.
