Former Nigerian youth international Loveday Omoruyi has declared that the Super Eagles’ painful World Cup exit was predictable, arguing that Nigeria’s overreliance on Victor Osimhen left the team tactically crippled the moment the striker hobbled off at half-time against DR Congo.
Omoruyi, who spoke with brutal honesty, said the country has paid the ultimate price for building an entire national team around one man, insisting that a footballing nation of more than 200 million people cannot keep collapsing anytime its star forward is unavailable.
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“Once Osimhen picked up that problem in Rabat, that was the end of the game,” he said. “A team that wants to go to the World Cup cannot depend on one player.”
The former Golden Eaglets midfielder said the crisis runs much deeper than missed penalties or extra-time fatigue. He criticised what he described as a poor attitude from some senior players, claiming that many do not truly understand what it means to wear the green and white jersey.
For him, the “badge culture” that once defined Nigerian football — from the days of Keshi to Okocha and Kanu — has been lost.
Omoruyi insisted it is time for a painful but necessary rebuild. Using the loss to DR Congo as the clearest evidence yet, he said Nigeria must stop patching holes and finally embrace long-term planning.
He even proposed that the NFF and technical staff urgently integrate six or seven U20 players into the senior setup, allowing them to grow, mature, and develop an identity ahead of the next qualification cycle.
“This is the moment to look inward,” he warned. “Short-term fixes will only bring short-term failures.”
Despite the disappointment, Omoruyi believes Nigeria can rise again — but only if the foundation is rebuilt from scratch, with courage, clarity, and a new generation ready to fight for the badge with everything.
