It’s been a year since the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023. Before the tournament, the Super Eagles had endured a dismal run of form, failing to meet expectations under Jose Peseiro’s managerial window. A series of underwhelming performances had dampened spirits; lackluster draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, followed by a humiliating defeat to Guinea, did nothing to help the situation. Were the Eagles really flying? As the team headed to Côte d’Ivoire, only a few people believed the Super Eagles could turn their fortunes around.
The first game of the competition was not any different as the Super Eagles struggled to a 1-all draw against Equatorial Guinea. After this game, the team adopted a more defensive strategy, relying on counter-attacks to score. This helped Nigeria qualify for the knockout stages after defeating Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in each game. Nigeria continued to play like this, defeating Cameroon, Angola, and South Africa. The team’s unexpected resurgence sparked a renewed sense of faith among supporters. Just when we felt Nigeria could lift the trophy again for the first time since 2013, the team lost to Côte d’Ivoire in the final.
Players in their Clubs vs Players during National Call- Ups
It has never been a question of quality. We have seen our players perform excellently in their clubs abroad. Victor Boniface was an integral member of the Bayer Leverkusen team that won the Bundesliga 23/24 season and also won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award, was a part of the Bundesliga Team of the Season, won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award four times, and also won the Bundesliga Player of the Month award once in the same season. However, he has not scored a goal for the Super Eagles since his debut in September 2023. Alex Iwobi is a very important player at Fulham FC, but whenever he plays for the Super Eagles, he always looks half the player he is. He has consistently put out average performances in the team for a long time. It could be because every coach keeps playing him as a box-to-box or central midfielder when he clearly is not adapted to the role. Nigeria has so many options in the centre of the midfield, including Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan Yusuf, and Raphael Onyedika, but Iwobi keeps playing there. Anyway, the coaches know more. Calvin Bassey, his teammate in Fulham, also plays well, but his error-proneness in green and white always raises eyebrows.
Discipline and Professionalism
The players’ apparent lack of focus inevitably raises questions about their commitment to the team. Critics have voiced concerns over the players’ attitudes, and a case in point is the unchecked access given to social media influencers and online comedians in the team’s camp. While leveraging social media to build pre-game anticipation is common practice, allowing entertainers to mingle with players during camp can be a significant distraction. This blurred line between preparation and entertainment undermines the team’s discipline and focus, ultimately impacting their performance on the field.
Another disturbing trend that has become increasingly common recently is players scrolling through their phones during warm-ups, just minutes before a game kicks off. This casual attitude is a stark contrast to the focus and dedication they display when representing their clubs. One cannot help but wonder what’s going through their minds as they scroll through social media or text messages instead of mentally preparing for the game ahead. Are they distracted by personal issues, or are they simply lacking the discipline to stay focused? Whatever the reason, this behavior is unacceptable at any level of competition.
The fault lies not only on the players. Many times, we have seen questionable tactics from the coaches. A good example is the ultra-defense tactics that Jose Peseiro used in the AFCON ‘23. One would argue that Nigeria would have lost the semifinal against South Africa if the Bafana Bafana were more clinical with their chances. During the game, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali faced 14 shots and saved 5 of those in normal time and extra time, while also saving two kicks in the penalty shootout. Our tactics were exposed, but Peseiro repeated the same style in the final. Another example of this was the game against Benin in the World Cup Qualification group, in which Nigeria lost by 2 goals to 1. This time, Finidi George was in charge of the team, and throughout the game, it was obvious that the team lacked a central idea of how they wanted to play.
During Finidi George’s tenure as coach, he extended invitations to several players, including home-based talent, primarily to fill gaps left by injured call-ups. Notable invitees included Ojo Olorunleke, Benjamin Taminu, Sadiq Ismael, Kenneth Igboke, and Ibrahim Olawoyin. Unfortunately, none of these players were able to capitalize on their opportunities and justify their selections. To achieve success at AFCON ’25 and secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the team demands a heightened sense of discipline among players and a tactically astute coach to lead them effectively.
Finidi George’s Regime
Finidi George was previously Jose Peseiro’s assistant, together with Salisu Yusuf. After Peseiro’s resignation, he became the coach between April and June 2024. He managed four games, recording a win against Ghana, 2 losses against Benin Republic and Mali, and a draw against South Africa. As earlier stated, he tried to reintegrate local players into the team—a move that his predecessors, Gernot Rohr and Jose Peseiro, decided against. However, the unimpressive display from the team led the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to look for another coach. He caught wind of this and decided to resign before he could be sacked. After he left his post, he lamented the NFF’s lack of communication and transparency. Near the end of his stint as coach, he had a spat with former Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the Year, Victor Osimhen. George questioned Osimhen’s commitment to the team as he had severally missed national games due to injuries. Osimhen did not take this lightly and decided to let it out in an online rant on Instagram. Finidi felt disappointed by Osimhen’s attitude, unsurprisingly since Osimhen insulted him severally in the video. Just a little later, Finidi left his post as the coach, and Osimhen was not exiled from the team. Finidi’s regime was unimpressive, and he is among the shortest-serving Super Eagles coaches of all time.
Ahmed Musa On The National Team
Ahmed Musa’s position as a regular starter for the Super Eagles should have been over since the 2019 AFCON. His professional career has been marred by uncertainty. A disappointing stint at Sivasspor in Turkey led him to join Kano Pillars in the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL). His last appearance for the Super Eagles was in March 2023, in a 1-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON ’23 Qualification Group. Despite being an unused substitute throughout the AFCON ’23, Musa remains the captain of the Super Eagles. In reality, however, William Troost-Ekong has been the functional captain for over a year. Yet Musa retains the formal title and its privileges, including voting rights at the FIFA Best Awards. Musa’s legendary status within the team is undeniable. With 109 caps since his debut in 2010, he holds the record for the most appearances. He was part of the AFCON 2013-winning team and etched his name in Nigerian football history with memorable performances at the World Cup, including a brace against Argentina in 2014 and Iceland in 2018. He is also the joint-seventh highest goalscorer for the national team.
However, it is time for the Super Eagles to move forward. Musa’s prolonged absence from the team and his limited involvement in recent years suggest that it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders.
Politics in the NFF
For many years, former coaches have complained about the involvement of the NFF in the invitation and selection of players for matches. These are solely the responsibilities of coaches, and the NFF’s involvement is suggestive of corruption. A good example is the Finidi-Umar saga where Finidi George refused to play Umar Sadiq even in games when a striker was needed. According to reports, Umar called himself ‘NFF boy’ and was always quick to quarrel whenever he was an unused substitute. Former coaches Gernot Rohr and Clemens Westerhof complained about this, stating that it made it difficult to build a consistent team. Also, it appears that Amaju Pinnick is still the NFF president. Ibrahim Musa Gusau has been appointed the NFF president since September 2022, but it appears that Pinnick is the one with first-hand information about the team. Important decisions are not made or announced until Pinnick announces them, just like the appointment of Eric Chelle. Who is then ruling the NFF: Pinnick or Gusau?
Eric Chelle: The Coach We Need?
After the AFCON, the NFF attempted to extend Peseiro’s contract, but he eventually resigned. For over a year, the NFF struggled to find his replacement. Initially, Finidi George was appointed the coach (and later hired), but a dismal run of matches and the decision of the NFF to hire a foreign coach led to his resignation. Augustine Eguaveon was made the interim coach (marking his third stint as the Super Eagles manager) while the NFF continued the search for a new coach. While in charge, he recorded 3 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss and also helped the team qualify for the upcoming AFCON. Despite the security of his job, he expressed concerns about the NFF’s inability to secure a permanent coach. Early this year, on the 7th of January, the NFF hired Malian coach Eric Chelle.
You must have known Chelle from the popular meme where he needed to cool his head after Mali crashed out of the AFCON. Let’s take a look at Eric Chelle’s portfolio as a coach. Before he became Nigeria’s coach, he was in charge of MC Oran in Algeria, where he averaged 1.54 points per game across 13 matches. With Mali, he performed well, winning 13 of his 21 games in charge, drawing 5, and losing just 3. He took the team to the quarterfinals of the AFCON ‘23, losing to the eventual winner, Côte d’Ivoire. He had a poor stint at US Boulogne, losing ten out of the 17 matches he managed.
With very important games coming up, including the World Cup qualifiers, heavy expectations rest on Eric Chelle to deliver a long-awaited World Cup ticket. Nigerians will be impatient. It has been 6 years since Nigeria’s last appearance in the World Cup, where we crashed out of the group stages after a heartbreaking defeat to La Albiceleste of Argentina in our 3rd group match. During the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, the team also lost to bitter rivals Ghana in a disastrous match in Abuja that also resulted in the resignation of caretaker-manager Augustine Eguaveon during his second stint as the team’s manager.
Now, another AFCON is on the horizon. Pending any changes, the AFCON ‘25 will be held in Morocco from the 21st of December 2025 to the 18th of January 2026. The Super Eagles will face Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda in Group C come December. Expectedly, the anticipation for the competition is similar to that of the previous edition. Many people do not believe the team will do well, but perhaps Eric Chelle will turn his doubters into supporters. Will the AFCON trophy finally return to Nigeria for the first time in 12 years, or will we have another disappointing performance? We can only wait.
Emmanuel Ibitunde.
