Ex-Nigerian international and former Stoke City striker Osaze Odemwingie has openly criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for attributing the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying struggles to individual players, according to Soccernet.ng.
The Nigerian national team, three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, have experienced a rocky start in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, failing to secure a victory in their opening four matches under coaches Jose Peseiro and Finidi George.
Since Eric Chelle took over, the Super Eagles remain unbeaten with two wins and two draws; however, this improvement has not translated into significant progress in the qualifiers.
During the September international break, Nigeria needed to win both fixtures to boost their chances. Although they managed a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda, they dropped crucial points in a draw against South Africa.
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Following the Rwanda match, the official NFF website singled out William Troost-Ekong and Cyriel Dessers as the main culprits for the team’s shortcomings, a move that sparked backlash from fans and members of the Super Falcons.
Odemwingie Condemns NFF’s Approach
Osaze Odemwingie responded sharply to the NFF’s public criticism, labeling it as highly unprofessional and indicative of mismanagement within the federation.
“This clearly shows that unqualified individuals are running our football federation. It’s very unprofessional,” Odemwingie told Brila.
“These officials seem no different from ordinary supporters – you could hand the job to a fan, and they might perform just as poorly as the current administrators.”
“It’s unacceptable and reflects poorly on the federation’s professionalism. When matters reach the international stage, such behavior is inexcusable,” he added.
“The way they handled this situation is reminiscent of amateurs, not an organization aspiring to elevate Nigerian football to global prominence.”
“Nigerians possess the talent to reach the World Cup final, not just the AFCON podium,” Odemwingie emphasized.
“To advance, all systems must be in place, yet we’re still embroiled in petty blame games.”
“It’s embarrassing and immature to single out players now. These athletes have built legacies; this is not the moment to hunt for scapegoats.”
“The root causes of our struggles extend far beyond the performances of one or two individuals,” the 44-year-old concluded.
With World Cup qualification hopes dwindling, Nigeria’s focus now shifts to the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, where the Super Eagles aim to reclaim continental glory.
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