The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has come under intense examination after all male national teams, from youth to senior levels, have underperformed in major competitions this year.
The U17 Golden Eaglets have failed to qualify for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U17 World Cup for the second consecutive time. They lost 2–0 to Ghana in the WAFU-B semifinal on September 30 under coach Manu Garba. Their last appearance in the World Cup was in 2019.
Meanwhile, the U20 Flying Eagles reached the knockout stage of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile but suffered a crushing 4–0 defeat to Argentina on Wednesday. The result extends their quarterfinal drought since their 2013 continental triumph.
Similarly, the U23 Olympic Eagles missed the Paris 2024 Olympics following a 1–0 loss to Guinea in the U23 Africa Cup qualifiers in March 2023. Their protest to the Confederation of African Football was dismissed, confirming their absence since the Rio 2016 Games.
At the 2025 African Nations Championship, the CHAN Eagles were eliminated in the group stage after a 4–0 defeat to Sudan on August 12, their joint-worst loss in the tournament’s history.
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Super Eagles under pressure
Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, now walks a tightrope in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They sit third in CAF Group C with 11 points from eight matches as of October 9, behind Benin and South Africa, both with 14 points.
Recent 1–1 draws against South Africa and Zimbabwe have damaged their campaign, leaving them unable to qualify as the best runner-up. The team must win upcoming matches against Lesotho on October 10 and Benin on October 14 to stay in contention.
Strikers Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have rejoined the squad for the Lesotho clash in South Africa, seen as a must-win fixture. Coach Eric Chelle faces mounting pressure, with Austin Eguavoen reportedly considered as a potential interim replacement should qualification slip away.
NFF faces growing criticism
Public anger toward the NFF has intensified. Former striker Brown Ideye accused NFF president Ibrahim Gusau of mismanagement, poor scouting, and neglecting the domestic league amid recurring match-fixing scandals.
Social media sentiment has turned overwhelmingly negative, with over 80% of recent posts on X describing the NFF as “shambolic.” Some users have called for the federation’s dissolution, just like the 2018 crisis when FIFA threatened Nigeria with suspension over unpaid bonuses.
Global sports outlet ESPN has grouped Nigeria with Egypt, Algeria, and Cameroon among African “giants in danger,” despite the continent securing nine qualification slots for the expanded 2026 World Cup.
