Segun Odegbami, a revered figure in Nigerian football, has delivered a scathing critique of the Super Eagles following their 1-1 stalemate against South Africa in Bloemfontein, asserting that the team fell short of deserving a win, according to Soccernet.ng.
The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations champion voiced his profound disappointment with Nigeria’s display during Tuesday’s World Cup qualifying match, a result that casts serious doubt over the nation’s chances of securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Heading into the encounter, the Super Eagles were under immense pressure, needing a win to reignite their faltering qualification campaign after a lackluster start.
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Before kickoff, Nigeria had accumulated only 10 points from seven games, trailing behind South Africa, who boasted 16 points. Although the Super Eagles maintained their unbeaten streak on South African soil, they failed to secure the crucial three points they desperately needed.
In his column for The Guardian, Odegbami was unreserved in his criticism.
“Who among Nigerians is unaware that the Super Eagles have been excessively hyped and overly indulged? For more than ten years, their performances have lacked both impressiveness and conviction, all while cycling through coaches as frequently as changing diapers, and catering to the egos of players who failed to deliver on the pitch,” the 1980 AFCON top scorer lamented.
“The nation was so starved for triumph that when the Super Eagles reached the African Cup of Nations final in January 2024 and lost, the country erupted in celebration, treating the team as if they had clinched the World Cup!”
“Since that moment, the country has paid the price for this premature jubilation, with Nigerian football stagnating, unable to rise beyond that plateau, struggling to justify the earlier euphoria.”
“The Eagles now resemble guinea fowls, fluttering in short bursts from one game to the next, both home and away, delivering mediocre performances that force Nigerians to rely on prayers just to secure a modest victory.”
“This is the so-called Giant of African football, competing for a World Cup berth in a revamped qualification format that allows the highest number of African teams to qualify, and Nigeria finds itself in arguably the easiest group!”
“Yet, the team limps from one uninspiring match to another, while Nigerians cling to hope despite the bleak outlook.”
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Regarding the match, an unfortunate own goal by William Troost-Ekong handed South Africa the lead, before Calvin Bassey leveled the score with his inaugural goal for Nigeria. Despite creating opportunities in the second half, the Super Eagles were unable to capitalize.
Odegbami felt the draw was a just outcome.
“Ultimately, Nigeria did not merit a win, and the 1-1 scoreline accurately reflected the performances of both sides on a poor playing surface, which was part of South Africa’s tactical approach,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Nigeria still has fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October, but their path to qualification appears increasingly narrow. Failure to qualify would mark the second consecutive World Cup absence for the Super Eagles, following their absence from Qatar 2022.
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