Online Reporter
NIGERIA fans are coming to terms with the fact the three-time continental champions will miss successive World Cups after a disjointed qualifying campaign which included two changes of manager and players boycotting training.
A squad boasting talents such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi could not clinch one of the 48 places at the expanded 2026 finals after being beaten on penalties by DR Congo in Africa’s play-off final on Sunday night.
Quite simply, Nigeria were not good enough over the course of the two-year qualification campaign.
Changes in the dugout did not help matters, and statistics show an inability to perform without Osimhen leading the line, with just four points taken from a possible 15 when the Galatasaray striker was out injured.
Nigeria were drawn alongside South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho in Group C, and squeezed into the play-offs despite being top seeds.
They drew 1-1 at home against Lesotho and played out a stalemate with Zimbabwe under manager Jose Peseiro in November 2023.
The Portuguese then departed at the end of his contract in March 2024, despite guiding Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Former Nigeria winger Finidi George took over, but his two matches as manager in June last year proved damaging to their hopes – a home draw against South Africa and a 2-1 defeat in Benin leaving the Super Eagles with just three points from four games.
The campaign paused as Augustine Eguavoen oversaw successful qualification for the 2025 Afcon, with Chelle then appointed manager in January and tasked with leading the Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup.
He won four of his first six competitive games – though a last-minute equaliser at home to Zimbabwe in March was a setback and Nigeria showed scant ambition as they settled for a 1-1 draw in South Africa in October.
The campaign did go down to the wire, but South Africa secured automatic qualification and Nigeria only booked their play-off spot when Onyeka scored in the 91st minute of their 4-0 win against Benin.
It was at the 1994 finals in the United States that Nigeria exploded on to the global football scene by reaching the last 16 on their World Cup debut, before winning gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Nigeria failed to build on their perfect start against DR Congo after Frank Onyeka’s early strike put them ahead, with Meschack Elia equalising just after half an hour.
The Super Eagles barely threatened after talisman Osimhen was went off injured at half-time.
In the penalty shootout, Fulham defender Calvin Bassey scooped his effort over the bar for Nigeria before Moses Simon and Hull City centre-back Semi Ajayi had their spot-kicks saved.
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle went as far as accusing a member of the DR Congo technical staff of “voodoo” while his side were taking penalties.
While such allegations have previously been raised in the African game, they are now rare and one reporter in Rabat described the Malian’s comments as “surreal”. – BBC Sport
