Former Super Eagles defender, Eric Ejiofor is counting Nigeria out of a qualification place at next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on Brila FM’s breakfast show ‘No Holds Barred with Ifeanyi Udeze’, Ejiofor described Nigeria’s World Cup chances as hopeless.
“How do we want to qualify for the World Cup? Where is the opportunity? We didn’t use it,” the former defender quipped.
“When the chance is very slim, we want to start hoping and praying. From day one we weren’t serious about it.
“I don’t think the players understand they are contesting to play in the World Cup. It is so sad because their attitude towards the game isn’t encouraging.
“Many of them haven’t gone to the World Cup in their career and this would have been the first time. I don’t know what they were thinking.
“Let’s remove the aspect of the Nigerian Football Federation, we know they have their own issues, but you the player must think about your future and career. Most players get big contracts after the World Cup.”
Enough blame to go round
Ejiofor also blamed the attitude of the Super Eagles players and the Nigerian Football Federation for the team’s poor form throughout the qualifiers.
“Imagine the attitude of coming to the team camp, some enter on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to just do only two trainings and you want to play a match. It’s not possible and you don’t work like that.
“Football is teamwork, we aren’t playing as a team and I won’t keep my hope. I have already removed my mind that we will go to the World Cup.
No Hope for 2026 World Cup
The 45-year-old said the Super Eagles have not shown consistency to trust that they can secure back to back wins.
“Imagine the two games, how are we sure we can win them? Remember we had a few games earlier and we had hoped for good outcomes to keep us in contention.
“Apart from what the coach tells you to do, you must establish yourself on the pitch and say this is our home. You can imagine this our last game against Rwanda, it was our first home win.”
“If they surprise me, good, but the way people are hopeful, it’s not me; I won’t disturb myself.
“Look at South Africa, the coach has been there for almost five years. He knows how to organise his team and the players understand what to do. This is the aspect of the NFF; they are always changing coaches. It’s not easy for the players to adapt and play as a team.
“You must have a structure to win. If you like, bring 11 Messis, they will not win because football is teamwork. We put ourselves in this situation, there is nothing we can do. Let’s play it like that, anything we can do, we will. It’s so sad.
The final straw
Lastly, he blamed last year’s loss against Benin Republic and the draw against Zimbabwe as some of the factors that contributed to the team’s current predicament.
“We shouldn’t have lost against Benin Republic. Remember we scored first and we lost the match 2-1, that’s not meant to happen at your home. Zimbabwe, we played a draw against them at home.
“Imagine if we can’t beat all those teams, we don’t merit qualifying. Throughout the group we have been struggling to score goals.”
Ejiofor played for Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also had stints with NPFL club Enyimba and Cypriot side Enosis Neon Paralimni FC.
