Nigerian Fans Furious as Super Eagles Struggle in ...

Nigerian Fans Furious as Super Eagles Struggle in World Cup Qualifiers

Witness Runodada- Zim Now Reporter

Following the Super Eagles' disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in their 2026 World Cup qualifier, Nigerian football fans have erupted in frustration, questioning both the squad's quality and the decision-making of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The result, which leaves Nigeria struggling early in their qualification campaign, has sparked widespread criticism of head coach Eric Chelle and the team's reliance on foreign-based players.

Prominent football analyst Lou Adams was among the many voices expressing outrage over the NFF’s decision to appoint Chelle. He pointed out that the Malian coach had failed to reach the semi-finals at the last Africa Cup of Nations and questioned what credentials were considered before his appointment. He argued that Nigeria’s ex-players who have ventured into coaching should have been prioritized over a coach from another West African nation.

“Just last week, Chelle was praised by Nigerian fans who believed the NFF had chosen the right candidate for the national team. Today, the story is different, and his head is now wanted on a stick,” Adams said. “How did you trust a coach who couldn’t reach the AFCON semi-finals to manage the Super Eagles? What was his pedigree? If you compare our ex-players who are in coaching today, are their counterparts from other African countries rated more highly? Eric Chelle should be an understudy to Austin Eguavoen, not the head coach. I blame the NFF’s sporting director for this mess.”

Another disgruntled fan, Abiola Mashiru, voiced concerns over the continued reliance on foreign-based players, particularly goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. He argued that home-based players should be prioritized, criticizing the squad’s inability to win trophies despite going through multiple coaches.

“My advice is that we need more home-based players. I have said it before, but you people keep praising Nwabali. Tell me at least two matches where he hasn’t conceded. We need at least 11 home-based players, especially in midfield, which is the worst we’ve ever had,” he said.

“We have been using the same squad since the 2014 World Cup. Tell me, what trophy have they won under different coaches? Gernot Rohr, José Peseiro, Austin Eguavoen, Finidi George, and now Eric Chelle—are they all bad coaches? Or is it that our squad is simply not ready to fight for the Super Eagles? If we had used the CHAN players who played against Ghana, along with Victor Osimhen, are you telling me we wouldn’t have won the last two matches?”

The sentiment that the Super Eagles should rely more on home-based players was echoed by Adesheye Turff Oluwanifemi, who went as far as suggesting that Nigeria should not bother qualifying for the World Cup if changes are not made. He expressed concerns that the team’s struggles could affect fans' health, particularly those suffering from hypertension.

“It is better we don’t go to the World Cup because we can’t perform. Considering the struggles in the country, watching this team will surely cause some people with high blood pressure to pass away. Until we start using 70% home-based players who are ready to die on the pitch, we won’t see the quality we desire,” he said. “African football is different from Europe. If you look at all the teams participating, only Nigeria relies heavily on foreign-based players. The others have 90% of their squad from their domestic leagues. Look at Jay-Jay Okocha’s era—that was the last great Eagles squad we had. Most of them were home-based, and they fought for the badge.

“These foreign-based players already have money and don’t want to risk injuries that could cost them their club careers. Most of them won’t break their backs for Nigeria because they know the NFF will abandon them if they get injured. We need to think outside the box and give opportunities to our homegrown talents who are hungry for success.”

The growing unrest among fans highlights their deep dissatisfaction with the Super Eagles' performance and the direction of the team under Chelle. With Nigeria already dropping crucial points in their World Cup qualification campaign, pressure is mounting on the NFF to reconsider its strategy before it's too late.