The Super Eagles of Nigeria have come under heavy criticism following their lackluster 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Former Nigerian international Friday Ekpo, who won bronze with the team at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), did not hold back in his assessment, stating that the once-dominant Super Eagles are now struggling against teams they previously dominated.
Nigeria Drops Vital Points in World Cup Qualification Race
The highly anticipated clash against Zimbabwe ended in frustration for Nigerian fans, as the Super Eagles failed to secure a crucial victory. Despite being favorites, Nigeria struggled to control the game and eventually conceded a late goal, leaving them with just a single point from the encounter.
The result puts Nigeria in a difficult position in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as they now risk falling behind in a competitive qualification group.
Ekpo: “We Are No Longer Giants”
Reacting to the disappointing performance, Friday Ekpo expressed his frustration with the current state of the Super Eagles. In an interview with Brila FM, the former midfielder criticized the team’s lack of urgency, technical discipline, and failure to dominate so-called “smaller” teams.
“African football has progressed significantly. Nigeria still views some of these countries as small, but we need to step up as well. We are struggling to win matches against these teams,” Ekpo stated.
The 55-year-old did not hold back in his criticism, boldly stating:
“We are no longer giants; we have become ants. We cannot hold onto the ball and just pass it sideways. If we do not defeat Bafana Bafana in South Africa, our World Cup qualifying dream is over.”
Ekpo’s remarks highlight growing concerns among Nigerian fans and football analysts regarding the Super Eagles’ inconsistency, lack of tactical flexibility, and failure to dominate against African opposition.
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Super Eagles’ Upcoming World Cup Qualifier Fixtures
Despite their struggles, the Super Eagles still have a chance to redeem themselves when they return to action in September for two crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier matches. Nigeria will face:
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Rwanda on September 3, 2024
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South Africa (Bafana Bafana) on September 6, 2024
Both games will be critical in determining Nigeria’s chances of securing a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Can the Super Eagles bounce back and prove their critics wrong? Nigerian football fans will be hoping for a much-improved performance when the team returns to the pitch in September.
