Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup has left fans heartbroken, frustrated, and asking familiar questions. How did a country with over 200 million people, a rich football heritage, and some of Africa’s most passionate supporters miss out yet again? The answers are many, but two issues stand out: our overdependence on Victor Osimhen and the absence of depth in the squad.
A Team Built on One Player Is a Team Built on Sand
Victor Osimhen is undeniably one of the best strikers in the world today. He is strong, fearless, and electric in front of goal. But Nigeria’s football has become so heavily built around him that when he is unavailable, injured, or simply outnumbered by defenders, the entire team collapses.
This overreliance exposes a bigger problem: a lack of player development. A nation of Nigeria’s size should not depend on one superstar to carry the hopes of millions. Countries that consistently qualify for the World Cup produce waves of talent, not occasional brilliance. When one player is missing, another steps up. For Nigeria, when Osimhen is missing, the whole team feels empty.
When Excuses Replace Strategy
Following the loss to Congo, many Nigerians were stunned when the coach suggested that “voodoo” played a role in the defeat. Statements like this are not only unprofessional, they are harmful. They shift responsibility away from the technical bench, the federation, and the players. They undermine our credibility and reflect a mindset that has no place in modern football.
Football is about tactics, preparation, youth development, and discipline, not superstition. While our competitors invest in sports science, data analysis, and long-term planning, Nigeria is still flirting with excuses that belong in the past. More shocking is the fact that, this ridiculous claim is coming from a non-Nigerian. Who taught him to ascribe our failure to voodoo? Wonders shall never cease!
The Real Issue: We Are Not Producing Enough Top-Level Players
Our biggest problem is not bad luck. It is a broken system.
Nigeria’s grassroots football has slowly deteriorated. There are reports that promising young players often go unnoticed unless they have connections. Even the few who break through struggle with poor coaching at an early age, and by the time they get to the national team, the gaps in their development are glaring.
Countries like Morocco, Senegal, and even smaller nations have invested heavily in youth systems. They take 10-year-olds, train them properly, and produce technically gifted professionals in their early twenties. Meanwhile, Nigeria still relies on raw hustle, not polished talent.
We Need a Complete Reset
If Nigeria truly wants to return to the World Cup, we must stop treating football like a lottery. We must build, not hope. We must keep investing in youth academics with proper coaches, fitness experts, and psychologists, create a long-term plan that doesn’t depend on one superstar striker, amongst other things
Football nations rise through structure, not superstition. Strategy, not excuses. Development, not dependence.
Nigeria missing the World Cup is painful, but it should also be a wake-up call. We can no longer hide behind excuses or rely on one brilliant player. If we start building today, truly building the Super Eagles can soar again. But until then, we will remain stuck in a cycle of disappointment, watching other nations take the stage that should rightfully be ours.
