Former Super Eagles defender Godwin Okpara has delivered a blunt verdict on Nigeria’s chaotic preparation culture, insisting that the same long-standing problems that existed during his own playing career are still crippling the national team and directly contributed to missing another FIFA World Cup ticket.
Speaking with visible frustration, Okpara said he was not surprised by Nigeria’s failure to qualify, as the signs had been obvious long before the first ball was kicked.
“This delayed preparation is exactly what cost Nigeria the World Cup ticket. It has been happening since my time; nothing has changed,” he said.
He lamented that the country continues to approach major competitions with poor planning, unclear structures, and last-minute decision-making, arguing that no serious football nation behaves this way.
“You cannot prepare late and expect to succeed. Football has changed. Other countries prepare early and stay organised. We keep repeating the same mistakes,” Okpara added.
The former PSG and Standard Liège defender revealed that during his era, players often complained about the lack of timely organisation, yet decades later, the situation appears even worse.
“It shouldn’t be like this. We are too big a nation to always wait until the last minute,” he said.
Okpara said it has now become difficult to identify exactly who is responsible because multiple leadership changes and administrative conflicts have created confusion within Nigerian football.
“I don’t even know who to blame anymore. The situation at home is complicated, but someone must take responsibility,” he stated.
He believes Nigeria’s AFCON preparations are showing worrying signs of the same pattern, warning that without immediate action, the team risks entering the tournament underprepared and unfocused.
“If we repeat these delays for AFCON, we will suffer again. Preparation is everything,” he stressed.
Okpara called for structural reform, early planning, proper camp organisation, and accountability from both administrators and technical staff.
His final message was sharp and urgent, “If Nigeria wants to succeed, we must stop these delays. Otherwise, the failures will continue, World Cup or AFCON, it makes no difference.”
