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Super Eagles Struggle To Find Identity As 2026 World Cup Approaches
In years past, it would have been unimaginable to think that Nigeria would struggle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, especially in a group featuring South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Benin Republic, and Lesotho—teams that Nigeria should dominate, given its wealth of talent. However, the current reality paints a different picture. The Super Eagles are currently languishing in fourth place in their group, behind South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin, with only seven points from a possible 18 after six matches.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
What is even more concerning is the team’s loss of its once signature playing style, leading to an overall loss of identity. Historically known for their fast-paced, attacking football, skillful dribbling, quick transitions, and counter-attacking abilities, the Super Eagles have now adopted a much less fluid “kick-and-follow” approach to the game.
The Nigerian senior football team, once renowned for its goal-scoring prowess and high-energy attacking style, has now fallen into mediocrity, largely due to the absence of a coherent footballing identity.
Looking back, since the era of the Green Eagles, Nigeria has always boasted creative midfielders who fed prolific strikers and operated from the wings to break down opponents’ defenses. Legends like Mudashiru Lawal, Friday Ekpo, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, and Mikel Obi, among others, were key to this tradition, while wingers such as Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amasiemaka, Finidi George, Emmanuel Amuneke, and Tijani Babangida added width to the attack, with forwards like Rasheed Yekini, Victor Osimhen, and Julius Aghahowa finishing the moves.
It is clear that the decline is not due to a lack of talent, but rather the failure of the administrators who have prioritized personal interests over building a sustainable national team. Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick, for instance, made a critical mistake by appointing Sunday Oliseh as coach. Despite Oliseh’s illustrious playing career, his tenure was marked by a fractured team, plagued by ethnic favoritism and an unattractive style of play. The promise of a footballing revolution akin to Pep Guardiola’s style never materialized, and instead, the team underperformed.
Pinnick’s decision to pass the NFF leadership to Ibrahim Gusau only compounded the situation. Gusau’s missteps, including the appointments of Finidi George and Eric Chelle, have left the Super Eagles without a clear direction. Chelle is reportedly contemplating leaving the role, following in the footsteps of Oliseh.
To win tournaments, teams require unity, cohesion, and well-defined strategies—qualities that were evident during the reign of coach Clemens Westerhof. Under his leadership, the Super Eagles were known for their flair and intricate plays, often surprising European teams. However, today’s Super Eagles lack the creativity in midfield necessary to provide service to attackers like Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Imagine how dangerous they could be if they had a creative playmaker like Okocha, Mikel, or Kanu feeding them with precise passes.
Simply assembling a team of talented players from various clubs will not suffice. What Nigeria lacks is a cohesive unit with a strong footballing identity. The NFF must return to the fundamentals that made the Super Eagles great, drawing inspiration from the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 Olympic gold-winning team. These teams demonstrated a style of play that caught the world’s attention, and it’s crucial that the NFF emulate those successful strategies.
Moreover, the NFF must bring in a world-class coach capable of transforming the team into a winning force once again. Nigeria’s 1994 World Cup team was ranked as one of the most entertaining teams globally, finishing in fifth place, and it is time to reignite that level of performance. After all, football remains one of the few unifying forces in Nigeria, transcending the country’s cultural and religious diversity.
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Babachir Lawal, has insisted that the party will participate in the 2027 general elections regardless of the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has defended the presence of its officials at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) national convention, describing it as part of normal diplomatic engagement.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is free to join the ruling party at any time he chooses.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Yilwatda made the statement on Wednesday during a media chat in Abuja, stressing that membership of the APC is voluntary and not forced on anyone.
According to him, Wike remains at liberty to decide his political future, and there is no obligation for appointees to formally join the ruling party before serving in government.
“If he wants to join the APC, he is free. We don’t compel people to join; they do so willingly,” he said.
He added that cross-party appointments are not new in Nigeria’s political history, noting that past administrations also appointed members of opposition parties into key positions.
Yilwatda cited examples such as Bala Mohammed and Adamu Aliero, who served as ministers under PDP governments despite being affiliated with other parties at the time.
He questioned the criticism directed at President Bola Tinubu over Wike’s appointment, arguing that similar decisions were taken by previous administrations without controversy.
The APC chairman also pointed to other non-APC members serving in the current government, saying Wike should not be singled out.
He further stated that Wike obtained approval from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before accepting the ministerial appointment in 2023.
Yilwatda maintained that President Tinubu has continued to demonstrate openness by appointing individuals across party lines based on competence.
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