- Nigeria’s Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and are on the brink of missing the next edition in North America
Paris FC forward Moses Simon has spoken candidly about Nigeria’s stumbling World Cup qualifying campaign, insisting no single person should carry the blame for the Super Eagles’ crisis, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria are six points adrift of group leaders South Africa with four matches to play, and their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup are already hanging by a thread.
The Super Eagles sit fourth in their group, ahead of games against Rwanda and South Africa in the coming days.
It’s a grim position for a team many expected to breeze past Rwanda, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Benin Republic, and Bafana Bafana. Instead, the campaign has unravelled amid chaos in the dugout and absences of key players.
But Simon, who missed May’s qualifiers through injury, believes the turmoil goes far beyond the dugout. The former FC Nantes ace admits the instability has left its mark but refuses to pin the blame on any one person.
“I cannot say or point finger on someone because there are a lot of stuff going on,” Simon told ESPN.
Nigeria have already had three coaches in the space of six qualifiers. José Peseiro began the campaign, managing only two points from two matches.
Finidi George followed, collecting just one point from his two fixtures. Current coach Eric Sekou Chelle has steadied things slightly, delivering four points from his first two games in charge.
“You can see how many coaches played the qualifiers. First, it was Peseiro, then after Finidi, and after a new coach again, and we know every coach has their own tactics,” Simon explained.
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The constant change hasn’t been the only hurdle. Injuries and absences have also stripped the team of its cutting edge.
Simon added: “Also with some players that didn’t play the last qualification in June — I was not there, about six key players were also not there, that was also a problem. I will not say without them the team will not live but I think these things would make great impact in the team. And now, we are trying to catch up because it is not easy.”
With Victor Osimhen and other big names missing parts of the campaign, Nigeria’s once-assured qualification looks anything but. Now, the pressure is at its peak.
Rwanda trade tackles with Nigeria in Uyo on Saturday in a must-win clash for the Super Eagles. Then comes a trip to Bloemfontein to face group leaders South Africa. Lose either game and the dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup may be finally gone.