Former Nigeria international Benedict Akwuegbu has called for serious reflection following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive time.
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The former Grazer AK striker expressed concern over the country’s inability to convert its talent into success on the international stage, insisting that urgent steps must be taken to fix Nigerian football.
“We need to reflect on what went wrong and put our football back in order,” Akwuegbu said.
He pointed out that Nigeria currently boasts top talents like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who have been performing impressively in the UEFA Champions League and had strong outings at the Africa Cup of Nations.
According to Akwuegbu, the World Cup would have been the perfect stage to crown such performances.
“With players like Osimhen and Lookman doing well, the World Cup would have been a great way to crown the season,” he added.
The former striker, however, blamed poor preparation for Nigeria’s struggles during the qualifiers.
He noted that the team failed to secure crucial points against smaller teams in their group — a lapse he described as unacceptable for a country with Nigeria’s football pedigree.
“Our preparations were not always top notch,” he admitted.
Akwuegbu stressed that consistency, planning, and seriousness in qualification matches must improve if Nigeria hopes to avoid similar disappointments in the future.
He concluded by urging football authorities to take responsibility and implement lasting solutions to restore the country’s status in global football.
