Nigeria on the brink of being eliminated from World Cup qualifier- Ex-international footballer

Ex-international footballer and consultant, Olisa Onuchukwu, has warned that Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain precarious, despite the recent points deduction handed to South Africa by FIFA.

Speaking as a guest on Sunrise FM’s Matters of the Moment and monitored by EnuguDaily, Onuchukwu explained that South Africa, who had been leading the group, were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player and FIFA sanctioned them with a three-point deduction, a three-goal forfeiture, and a fine of 10,000 Swiss francs.

“This ruling has slightly opened the door for Nigeria, but we are still in a very disadvantageous position,” Onuchukwu said.

“South Africa remain on 14 points while Nigeria are on 11. With only two matches left, the situation is no longer entirely in our hands. We must win our games and hope our rivals slip up.”

Onuchukwu expressed concern about the dynamics of the qualifying group, pointing out that Zimbabwe and Rwanda are staging their ‘home’ matches in South Africa because their stadia did not meet FIFA’s requirements.

He said that this could give South Africa added advantage, since all three rivals are southern African teams.

He was also critical of the Super Eagles’ underwhelming performances, describing the team as lacking cohesion, consistency, and killer instinct.

“We cannot keep crying over spilled milk. The truth is that the Super Eagles have been underachieving. There is no cohesion in the team and nothing impressive about their style of play,” he noted.

Beyond the pitch, Onuchukwu argued that Nigeria’s problems lie not in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) itself but in its administration.

“The NPFL is among the best in Africa. We produce players who can compete anywhere. The real problem is corruption and manipulation in management. If players are picked on merit, we have enough talent locally to strengthen the national team.”

He also highlighted poor player welfare as a major reason Nigerian footballers leave for smaller leagues abroad.

“Players don’t move because of facilities. They move because of welfare packages. If you are paying $200 monthly in Nigeria and Rwanda or Tanzania clubs offer $1,000, of course players will leave. It’s about survival,” he said.

Looking ahead, Onuchukwu stressed that Nigeria’s only realistic hope is to win the remaining fixtures and hope South Africa falters.

“If we miss the 2026 World Cup, it will spell doom for our football. The NFF leadership must take full responsibility and step down if that happens,” he declared.

On the question of leadership reform, the ex-international urged caution.

“Being an ex-player does not automatically qualify you for top football administration. We need round pegs in round holes—experienced, knowledgeable, and passionate professionals. However, there are some former internationals who have the competence and could perform well if given the chance.”