Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s World Cup playoff qualification, cautioning fans and officials against what he calls a “culture of celebrating mediocrity.”
Oliseh, who once captained and coached the national team, said while it’s natural for Nigerians to feel relieved after the Super Eagles kept their World Cup hopes alive, the qualification should not be mistaken for success.
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“Qualifying for a playoff shouldn’t be a reason to dance in the streets,” Oliseh told reporters. “We are Nigeria — a football powerhouse in Africa. The standard must be higher than just scraping through. We used to set the bar; now, we’re celebrating survival.”
The 1996 Olympic gold medalist lamented that many young fans have grown up without seeing the true dominance of Nigerian football, adding that the decline in expectations reflects the lack of proper systems and accountability within the sport.
“Many young Nigerians never saw the Super Eagles when we were feared worldwide,” he said. “They think average results are okay. That’s worrying. The focus should be on building a team that competes with the best — not one that barely qualifies.”
Oliseh called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and technical crew to use the playoffs as an opportunity to reset ambitions, insisting that only by demanding excellence can the country return to its former glory.
“The players have talent, no doubt,” he added. “But talent alone is never enough. We need structure, discipline, and belief. Until we restore our standards, we’ll keep celebrating what should be normal.”
