Former Super Eagles midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, who is currently working as a Chelsea scout, has expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the Super Eagles’ performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
After eight rounds of matches, Nigeria is in a precarious position, lying third in their group, which is currently led by Benin Republic and South Africa, both on 14 points. Nigeria is tied with Rwanda on points, making the path to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup extremely difficult.
Speaking as a guest on DSTv’s Night Football, Olofinjana was asked if he was disappointed in the Super Eagles players. His response pointed the blame squarely at the administrative level.
“It is difficult to separate the administrators and blame the players. It will be unfair to blame the players alone. These are players that are doing excellent things for their clubs across Europe. Well of course, it is always difficult coming back to play in Africa; it has always been a problem. To talk about the problem with our football, you can’t blame the players alone without looking at the administration.” he said
He continued by noting that while the players are individually talented, the team lacks cohesion:
“I don’t think you can blame only the players. Some of these players are very good at their clubs, but when they come together as a team, the chemistry is missing. Too often, blame is placed solely on the players, but the administration also carries responsibility.”
Olofinjana specifically criticized the frequent changes to the national team’s technical crew, which he believes has had a destabilizing effect and points to a lack of professionalism and consistency from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“First, we need to talk about managers. Different managers come in with different ideas, but they don’t always get the support they need. For example, one manager walked away because he felt he wasn’t being backed enough by the NFF. Another came in at a crucial time but didn’t last long either. And yet another had the best record, but some argue he took the job too late to really make an impact. The bottom line is this: the constant hiring and firing of coaches is destabilizing. Managers keep coming and going, and that’s not healthy for the team.”
He believes these changes have resulted in a fundamental loss of playing culture and identity for the national team.
“From where I stand, the bigger problem is lack of structure and identity. When you watch the Super Eagles these days, you see a team without a discernible pattern. It shouldn’t be so. We should be able to say, ‘This is their style, this is their philosophy.’ But right now, there’s no clear identity.”
He concluded stating that Nigeria needs stability and proper backing for its coaches.
“Nigeria is one of the best footballing nations in Africa. We need a good manager, backed with proper support and respect. Otherwise, what happens is managers leave, or they fail, and the cycle continues. Without structure, you can’t build. Fans end up frustrated, managers walk away, and players struggle to deliver. Until there’s stability and a clear football philosophy, the Super Eagles will continue to wobble.”
