Super Eagles? Think again

Talk is cheap. Our players are too busy doing other things outside of promoting Nigeria. Sometimes when they misbehave, they feel as if they are doing us a favour by playing for Nigeria. Until this carefree attitude changes, we would continue to run in circles by 2030 trying to qualify for the World Cup. No curse intended, please.

No surprises over such needless debates among incurable Nigerian optimists as regards what would have happened if the Super Eagles had qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Nothing other than crises between the players and officials. Not forgetting the disturbances of representatives of the Federal Government clad in various patterns of flowing agbada and babarigas, idle state governors, ministers, National Assembly members in their numbers, charter jets parked in airports in cities where the team is playing. Lest we forget the long lists of accompanying officials, deep pockets, influence peddlers around government circles in different shapes and sizes gallivanting around the hotel where the players are staying.

These unwanted people serve as distractions to the players, their coaches etc. They crowd around the hotel’s lounges and lifts, jumping around the hotel’s rooms. Sadly with the competition’s attendance badges hung around their chests with some of them residing in the same hotel where the team is.

Instead of the hotel providing the serene environments needed for concentration, focus and rest which the players need, NSC and NFF officials are seen moving the big men to halls where all manner of promises are made to create more pressure among the players. Soon these money spree turns the players into bureau de change. Then the players, coaches and team officials’ ‘madness’ starts.

They suddenly remember their unpaid allowances, match bonuses. Outstanding flight tickets not paid. Will you blame them? Free money is around them. It is time for bazaar.

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With such rowdy setting around the Super Eagles during the Mundial, discipline breaks down, the coaches lose the dressing room, especially to the motley crowd of officials who storm the dressing room at half-time to make the camp ungovernable. The period in between the first game and when the team crashes out of the Mundial, the players break into camps, with some enjoying the sacrilegious support of different government officials who inadvertently render the coaches and NFF management otiose. Such rudderless environment breeds confusion.

Yes, Super Eagles are very undisciplined during such competitions, especially if Nigeria wins her first game. It gets into their heads. Our players don’t know how to manage success. Rather than allow the coaches do the interviews or direct those to speak to them, they scramble to be talked to by the media since most of them are bilingual.

So far, the ten African nations have done well with nine of them qualifying for the Round of 16. Of the nine African nations that qualified for the Mundial at the Round of 16 stage, five have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup as at midnight on Wednesday. These countries are Tunisia, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and DR Congo.

Conspicuously missing in the Super Eagles is a leader on the field who takes charge of what happens on the pitch during matches, such as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, et al. These fantastic players serve as the uniting platform for their mates. Incidentally, they are all strikers and have become the pivot of the teams. Not so with the Super Eagles where our super star is the monster who openly calls for his substitution when he is displeased during competitions or walks up to a mate in training sessions to rain abuses on him. And then he gets away with such conduct without instructions from the Head Coach urging him to apologise as a condition to remain in the camp. Yet we are surprised the Super Eagles are not at the Mundial. Pray, the 2030 edition is most unlikely except we change our ways of preparation.

Countries ousted from the Mundial have exhibited one trait which is an interesting commentary. Their coaches have resigned from the job, having been unable to take those failed nations to the Promised Land. Indeed, Germany’s manager Julian Nagelsmann who wanted to be the exception to the resignation rule has been told by the German FF chieftain to quit the job now. Otherwise the DFA would fire him.

‘’According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, the DFB have now told Nagelsmann, 38, to step down from his role as manager before they sack him. It’s understood that if he does not do so, then he will be dismissed regardless, but a final decision is yet to be made.

“Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been heavily linked with the position and is said to be ‘open’ to returning to the dugout for it.’’

Good thinking by the DFB, especially with the probability of signing Klopp as Nagelsmann’s replacement. DFB chiefs know the terms of contractual agreement they have with Nagelsmann, making it imperative for them to speak the language the coach would understand. This is the missing link in Nigeria’s case where the NFF have no control on the coach they unveiled with fanfare.

Thirty-two nations have exited from the 2026 World Cup and the feedbacks aren’t tales of the unexpected. Instead, even the players are projecting into the future of the countries’ soccer by offering suggestion such as having the players to play with their hearts.

According to one of the Senegalese midfielder, Krepin Diatta in a post-match interviews: “When you’re leading 2-0 in the 84th minute, you have to be the boss in your own box. You have to do everything. If it means using your head, if it means using your body, you have to do it. You have to be a leader.”

Diatta added: “Given what we offered and showed, it’s the heart that speaks today. Frankly, I’m devastated. It’s truly a shame to let slip a qualification that was practically ours.

“We were determined to write a beautiful chapter in the history of our football in this World Cup, but we have to accept that we failed in our mission.

“I put myself in the shoes of all Senegalese people and, frankly, they deserve better. This nation deserves better. Considering what we offered, we shouldn’t have lost this match.

“We have to stop making excuses. We have to play with the heart. And when it’s time to defend, we have to do it,” Krepin Diatta said.

Brilliant suggestions, given the fact that Senegal was leading Belgium by 2-0 until the 84th minute only to lose the game 3-2 after extra-time. So far, no comments from those in high places. The reactions are coming from the coaches and players – the trust of the post match views are the same. The need to learn from their mistakes.

All wasn’t rancour free between the players, coaches, soccer federation members.

Senegal’s Pape Gueye said: “I’m announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team.”

Gueye’s statement will amp up the focus of Thiaw’s position with the 45-year-old still under pressure following Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations debacle at the start of 2026.

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