Former Super Eagles defender Chikelue Iloenyosi believes the players must accept the biggest share of responsibility for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, insisting they left their resurgence too late in the qualifying campaign.
Popularly known as ‘The General’, Iloenyosi argued that while coaches and administrators often come under intense scrutiny, it is ultimately the players who decide matches on the pitch.
“The players must take responsibility because they are the ones who play the matches,” Iloenyosi said.
The former international maintained that the Super Eagles had enough quality to secure qualification but failed to deliver when it mattered most.
According to him, stronger performances earlier in the campaign would have prevented Nigeria from finding itself in such a difficult position.
“We started playing well too late. If those performances had come earlier, we wouldn’t be talking about missing the World Cup,” he added.
Iloenyosi also highlighted the personal cost of missing football’s biggest tournament, noting that the players stand to lose the most.
He explained that World Cup participation enhances players’ careers, increases their global visibility and creates opportunities for bigger transfers and endorsements.
“Missing the World Cup hurts the players more than anyone because it affects their careers, exposure and opportunities,” he stated.
Despite the disappointment, The General expressed confidence in the current technical crew, saying the Super Eagles have the quality to bounce back and begin building towards a successful qualification campaign for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
