Former Super Eagles midfielder Nosa Igiebor has urged African nations to adopt a stronger mentality and learn from Morocco’s success after the continent endured a disappointing end to its FIFA World Cup campaign.
Following the Round of 32 exits of several African representatives, Igiebor said the performances exposed a lack of experience at the highest level, insisting that talent alone is no longer enough to compete for football’s biggest prize.
The former Real Betis midfielder believes Morocco’s consistent progress over recent years should serve as a blueprint for other African nations seeking sustained success on the global stage.
“Experience played a big role. Some of the African teams have quality players, but they lacked the mentality and composure needed in key moments,” Igiebor said.
The 34-year-old, who represented Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles lifted the continental title under the late Stephen Keshi, praised Morocco for building a competitive team through continuity, long-term planning and belief.
He noted that the Atlas Lions’ performances in recent major tournaments have shown that African teams can compete with the world’s elite when the right structures are in place.
“Look at Morocco—they have developed a winning mentality. That’s the standard other African countries should aspire to if they want to go far at the World Cup,” he added.
Igiebor also called on African football federations to invest more in youth development, coaching and long-term planning rather than focusing solely on qualification.
With the expanded FIFA World Cup offering more opportunities for African nations, the former Super Eagles midfielder believes the continent must now shift its ambition from merely participating to genuinely challenging for the trophy, insisting Morocco has already shown that such a dream is achievable.
