Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread and that’s as a result of the Super Eagles’ lack of desire and hunger according to former Enyimba FC manager Yemi Olarenwaju, Footynaija.com reports.
The Super Eagles sit fourth in Group C with just seven points after six rounds of matches. With only four games remaining and a six-point gap separating them from group leaders South Africa, the chances of making it to the Mundial look bleak.
Throughout the qualifiers, Nigeria have been anything but consistent. The Super Eagles have had three different coaches during the campaign — Jose Peseiro, Finidi George, and now Eric Chelle — with little sign of cohesion or improvement.
Peseiro’s reign produced uninspiring draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Finidi took over briefly, managing a 1-1 draw with South Africa before a damaging 2-1 loss to Benin. Chelle’s tenure began with a glimmer of hope after that win over Rwanda but momentum quickly stalled with another frustrating draw against Zimbabwe.
Olanrewaju “Yemaster,” former Enyimba coach and respected voice in Nigerian football, has pointed to a deeper issue: a lack of commitment and character from the players themselves.
What Olarenwaju “Yemaster” said
“When Finidi was the Super Eagles coach, six of the regulars were not available for the game, and the game was in the summer,” Yemaster told Lagos Talks. “Nigerians actually want the World Cup, but the players don’t want to go to the World Cup. They are not interested, take it to the bank.
“Just imagine that it was Finidi that drew against Zimbabwe at home or any home-based coach, you’re dead. But nobody talks about it.
“I always tell my players that they need to have character. As players, without a coach, there are some games you should never lose. Finidi lost to Benin, but is it only Benin that cost us the World Cup? Look at the gap.
“Hakimi already reported to camp for Morocco, but our players were busy clubbing in Lagos when camp had opened.”
If Nigeria is to salvage any hope of making it to the 2026 World Cup, a serious shift in attitude is urgently needed. As it stands, the dream is slipping away and it would take an incredible change of fortunes to make their World Cup dreams come true.