Former Super Eagles defender Godwin Okpara has described Nigeria’s latest World Cup collapse as a painful confirmation that the national team is no longer operating at the elite level required to compete on the global stage.
Following the 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo, Okpara said the failure represents a “big blow” that should force an honest national conversation about the state of Nigerian football.
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Speaking with deep frustration, the former PSG and Standard Liège defender said that while the loss hurts, what hurts even more is the realization that the decline did not begin yesterday. According to Okpara, signs of stagnation and regression were visible long before the playoff, and Sunday night’s defeat only exposed what many refused to admit.
He argued that the current crop of players, although talented individually, lack the hunger, urgency, and sharpness that once defined Nigeria’s golden eras. Okpara emphasized that the squad is “fading away age-wise,” insisting that too many key players are past their prime or approaching the downward curve of their careers. For him, the defeat to DR Congo is proof that Nigeria must rebuild — not recycle.
Okpara pointed to a worrying trend: missing two consecutive World Cups. He believes this is no coincidence but a result of poor planning, inconsistent tactical direction, lack of competitive mentality, and long-standing administrative instability. These problems, he said, will only worsen unless decisive reforms begin immediately.
Still, Okpara stressed that this is not the time for excuses or emotional reactions. Instead, he urged the federation, players, and technical team to recognize the gravity of the situation. Nigeria, he warned, risks slipping even further behind rising African nations such as Mali, Morocco, and the DR Congo itself — all of whom exhibit discipline and structure.
Despite the painful exit, Okpara insists that Nigeria must now shift focus to the fast-approaching AFCON 2025 in Morocco, which will either redeem or further damage the Super Eagles’ reputation.
