Good morning, everyone!
It’s Wednesday already, and this week is zooming by. I could dwell on the weekend’s flops, but let’s cut to the chase: the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup bid is practically dead, and it’s no surprise why.
I was in an X space during their last match, and we got into how our coaching carousel—José Peseiro, Finidi George, now Éric Sékou Chelle—sank our campaign. Sure, each coach added a bit to our measly points, but the real culprits are higher up at the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
One home win in the qualifiers? That’s a joke. Imagine Enyimba chasing the NPFL title but choking against minnows at home. If we can’t beat Lesotho (ranked 148th) or Zimbabwe (117th), we don’t belong at the World Cup.
This isn’t just football—it’s a disease across Nigerian sports. Our track star Favour Ofili, who set a 150m world record (15.85s) in 2025, just ditched Nigeria for Turkey because the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) botched her Olympic 100m entry with rookie mistakes. She’s not the first to jump ship, but social media made her exit a loud wake-up call.
The Super Falcons are another case, they keep shining despite awful technical support, masking the NFF’s failures. We used to wiggle out of these messes, but not anymore. The NFF’s gamble with coaches was doomed from the start. World Cup success needs years of planning, not mid-campaign experiments. Gernot Rohr was far from perfect, but the NFF’s sloppy choices since 2021 have buried us.
Here’s the thing: we already know how to fix this, but it’s like a broken record. For events like the 2028 Olympics or 2030 World Cup, the NFF and AFN must plan early. Pick strong coaches three years out and stick with them to build a real strategy. Stop with the quick fixes.
Invest in young talent through grassroots programs and youth academies. Make hiring open and fair, with committees to hold leaders accountable. Let fans and athletes have a voice through public forums to rebuild trust. These aren’t new ideas—they’re obvious, and that’s why it’s maddening they’re ignored.
You’d think the NFF learned from missing the 2022 World Cup. Nope. It’s almost funny to think anyone will face consequences for this disaster. We deserve better. It’s time to demand accountability from our sports leaders.
Here’s to another World Cup watched from home, Nigeria. Meanwhile, Enyimba, I’m coming for you tomorrow!
‘EnyimbaEnyi
