Nigeria’s former captain Austine Okocha has said the team’s failure to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup was not only about what happened during matches but also about issues behind the scenes that affected performance, Footynaija.com reports.
Nigeria were knocked out after a tense 1–1 draw with DR Congo in Rabat, followed by a 4–3 penalty shoot-out defeat that ended their qualification journey.
Frank Onyeka scored early before Meschack Elia equalised, and missed spot kicks from Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi sealed the loss. It marked the end of a troubled qualifying run that had already included poor results, managerial changes, unpaid allowances, and confusion around squad planning.
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Speaking in a report by The Whistler, Okocha said Nigeria’s journey through the qualifiers was full of ups and downs and should never have reached that chaotic point.
According to him, “Nigeria’s run in the World Cup qualifiers was a rollercoaster, but we would have loved to see Nigeria qualify with ease.”
He stressed that the team needed more consistency in their approach and in how they managed games.
“We all know football is not an easy game, and what I think they should improve on is to be more consistent. They need to stick to winning with top performance in every game,” he added.
Okocha also pointed to deeper problems behind the scenes. He explained that the issues were not limited to tactics or individual players, saying, “I don’t think it’s just the players. It might be other things off the pitch. You have to prepare off the pitch before you get on the pitch.”
His comments add to the growing list of reactions from former players and officials who have blamed poor planning, constant coaching changes, and unresolved disputes within the football system for Nigeria’s poor campaign.
Thanks for addressing this topic—it’s so important.
Such a thoughtful and well-researched piece. Thank you.