Nigeria’s battle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has once again exposed a bitter truth: The nation’s problem is not the players on the pitch, but the lack of preparation from those running football in the country.
With the quality of talent available, the Super Eagles should not be struggling in a group they were expected to dominate. The real failure lies largely in leadership and planning.
Time and again, administrators wait until the last minute to act, whereby Coaches are hired in a rush and sacked just as quickly, leaving the team without stability or direction. No squad can grow under such inconsistency.
At the grassroots level, the picture is even worse. While countries like Morocco and Senegal have invested heavily in youth academies and football infrastructure, Nigeria has abandoned its own structures. It continues to rely on raw talent instead of grooming players through proper systems, and the gap is now showing on the pitch.
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To make matters worse, our football leaders are often distracted by internal wrangling, financial controversies, and political battles. These distractions weaken preparation and deny the players the support they deserve.
If Nigeria is serious about returning to the top for which it was known in the past, there must be a change in approach. Administrators must give coaches time and authority to build, invest in grassroots and youth development, and provide modern facilities and medical support.
More so, they should also put football above politics, which has eaten deep into the sporting world.
Football success today is no longer about raw talent alone. It is about vision, planning, and preparation. Until our leaders accept this, the Super Eagles will continue to struggle where they should be soaring.
