Nigerians have taken to social media to criticise the Super Eagles team for their poor performance against Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles needed a win to boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup in 2026, but the team faltered at home in a packed Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The team produced a lethargic performance with the majority of the players failing to live up to expectations, barring the brilliance of one man- Victor Osimhen.
The Galatarsaray forward further established his importance to the team with Nigeria’s only goal of the game in the 74th minute before Zimbabwe snatched a point in the 90th minute.
Osimhen scored all the three goals for the Super Eagles in the two matches against Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, making it three goals in just two World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles are walking a tightrope in the race to qualify for the World Cup with a paltry seven points from six games, and just one win with four draws, and one defeat to sit in the fourth position.
Nigerians, understandably, could not hide their disappointment after another disappointing outing from the team under Eric Chelle.
They took to social media to vent their frustrations at the team’s showing despite the support from the fans in the stadium.
Gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey led the criticism, with a scathing, blaming the team’s complacency for their failure to win.
He wrote on X: “I’ve always said this, one of our problems is managing small successes. You score just one goal, all of a sudden you think you have qualified for the World Cup.
“The Zimbabweans practically strolled from the midfield into the net unchallenged while we watched. Na wa. Now they’ll start calculating maths.”
Football Journalist, Tobi Samuel questioned the team’s character, and the poor form at home.
He wrote: I grew up watching the Super Eagles players with big characters both on and off the pitch. Even the 2000 AFCON that we lost to Cameroon, you can’t fault the team’s character.
“Our home venue(s) used to be a fortress because of the player’s mentality and character. Possibly, this is not about the Super Eagles alone, football is changing and players in this era lack the character.
“We have failed to beat Zimbabwe home and away, we have failed to beat Lesotho in Uyo, we lost to Benin Republic on a neutral ground and what do you get from the players; “there are no minors in African football.” Hey, there are still minors, we dropped the character of a giant.”
Chima Daniel criticised the team’s lack of cohesion, intensity, and teamwork.
He wrote on X: “When you watch teams like Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast play you would know the Super Eagles is not a team yet just a bunch of top players coming together.
“No cohesion, no intensity, no teamwork, no pattern. I keep saying all we need is a tactically sound coach.”
Popular social media critic, Daniel Regha blamed the coaching crew, and the players for the poor showing in Uyo.
He wrote: “Super Eagles coach is to blame as much as the players, the team lacks consistency and determination; This performance against Zimbabwe was embarrassing. The team needs to step it up, this is the World Cup for goodness sake.”
Football Journalist, Solace Chukwu could not hold back his criticism, blaming Eric Chelle, and William Troost-Ekong for their roles in the encounter.
He said: “Thought the (Victor) Boniface substitution was a blunder on (Eric) Chelle’s part at that moment. That said, Ekong really should have dealt with that (the Zimbabwe run to the goal); he’s a great leader, but at this point he needs to be phased out of the starting XI. AFCON 2023 was, looking back, his one final heave.”
Choji ES slammed the team’s over reliance on Victor Osimhen, while urging Nigerians to forget about the World Cup.
He wrote on X: “Zimbabwe had one job. Frustrate us and steal points. They did it effortlessly. The moment Osimhen left, the team collapsed. Over-reliance on one player is a disaster waiting to happen.
“At this rate, let’s just forget the World Cup focus on AFCON and hope for a miracle.”
Darealkool urged the Nigeria Football Federation to consider the home based players because the team needs hungry players.
He wrote on X: “We need hungry players, We can get raw talent in home based players, the great players Nigeria ever produced were home based before discovery. Osimhen is still a good example, Okocha, Rashidi, Kanu, Amokachi, these are players who know what it means to wear the Super Eagles Jersey.”
Omobude Lazarus urged the Nigeria Football Federation to stop inviting foreign players because they lack the hunger to play for the team.
He wrote on Facebook: NFF should stop beaconing on foreign players. No hunger in them at all to do the needful when it matters. The crop of players Stephen Keshi of blessed memory used to win Nation’s cup in 2013, were so fantastic to the point that even when they made it to the world cup, in 2018, the reality was shown.
“Sunday Mba was picked from the Nigeria Professional Football League, Ezenwa, during Gernot Rohr, and was also picked from the same National league. You can attest to it that they were very hungry then to make a statement.
“Apart from Osimhen who plays his heart anytime he is invited in line with the spirit of scoring goals in him, no other player in the Super Eagles has such a hungry spirit. Lookman is good at his own deeds.”
The Super Eagles will be back in World Cup qualifiers action in September when they take on Rwanda at home on September 1st before playing South Africa seven days later.
Nigerians Blast Super Eagles For Poor Performance Against Zimbabwe is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
