Former Super Eagles coach, Jo Bonfrere, don yarn say Nigeria national team must put the 2026 World Cup disappointment for back and begin serious plan for 2030 and 2034 editions sharp sharp. The man wey lead Nigeria U-23 team win historic Olympic gold for 1996 talk am during interview with Complete Sports.
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“Super Eagles must put the 2026 World Cup disappointment behind them. Preparation for 2030 and 2034 must start now,” Bonfrere yarn. “E no good say Nigeria no go dey for World Cup for 2026. E no good for the players, no good for Nigeria, and no good for Africa.”
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Na true talk. Super Eagles go miss back-to-back World Cup when competition kick off for Canada, Mexico and United States come June. This one follow after we miss 2022 World Cup when Ghana Black Stars eliminate us for play-offs. Hope for redemption scatter again for November 2025 when Eric Chelle team lose on penalties to Democratic Republic of Congo for African play-off final.
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Bonfrere believe say this setback suppose be turning point. “The Federation (NFF) must learn from the mistakes wey make Nigeria miss 2026 World Cup. Dem suppose correct am and plan properly for 2030, starting with 2027 AFCON,” the veteran coach add. “Many talented Nigerian players dey top European clubs. E go be serious wahala if dem miss three consecutive World Cups.”
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Meanwhile, Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle don begin plan for future. Reports say im dey set to invite five new players for squad for friendly matches during international break. Nigeria go play Poland for June 3 for PGE Narodowy Stadium for Warsaw, then face Portugal for June 10.
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For March, Chelle don introduce new faces like Emmanuel Fernandez, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Yira Sor and Philip Otele during four-nation invitational tournament for Amman, Turkey. Now im dey look at other players wey fit join.
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Kareem Tunde, 20-year-old wey dey play for Levante for La Liga, don make 14 league appearances for 2025/26 season. Im register im first assist for Levante 4-2 win over Real Oviedo. Sources say im dey on Chelle radar for possible call-up.
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Femi Azeez don show outstanding form for Millwall for EFL Championship. The 24-year-old don record eight goals and eight assists for 30 matches. Im performance don attract interest from Ipswich Town wey dey push for Premier League promotion. Analysts say im fit serve as potential replacement for Wilfred Ndidi for Super Eagles setup.
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Marcus Abraham dey expected to return to national team under Chelle. The 26-year-old winger get im first call-up under Gernot Rohr for 2021 and make im debut against Cameroon. For Portugal this season, im don score five goals for 25 appearances.
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Anthony Dennis, Goztepe midfielder wey help club secure promotion back to Turkish Super Lig last season, dey in contention for selection. The 21-year-old don score five goals this campaign.
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Bonfrere yarn say Nigeria must reclaim im leadership position for African football. “Nigeria na giant for Africa. Dem suppose lead for everything, especially football, because dem get some of the best talents for continent,” im talk. “E no good say dem miss World Cup for 2022 and 2026, and now we dey already talk about 2030. Dem must put their house in order.”
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The former coach remind everybody say world dey miss Nigeria for World Cup. “Fans love the energy and glamour Nigerians bring to tournament. FIFA always enjoy atmosphere Nigerians create. World dey always look forward to see dem again,” Bonfrere yarn with passion.
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But as planning dey go on, another wahala dey ground. Hon. Zakari Abdullahi, National Vice Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), don criticize NFF and National Sports Commission (NSC) silence over Interim Management Committee (IMC) wey dem set up to unify supporters’ groups.
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The IMC wey dem inaugurate for February 13, 2025, get task to harmonise six recognised supporters’ clubs into single entity. But more than one year after, objective no still reach. No elections conduct, and concerns over transparency, accountability and leadership still dey.
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Abdullahi talk say silence of NFF and NSC raise serious concerns about commitment to reforms for Nigerian football. “E no acceptable say after setting up committee with clear objectives and timelines, authorities don go quiet despite im failure to deliver,” im yarn. “Nigerian football deserve accountability and direction, not silence.”
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Division among supporters show clear for Nigeria World Cup qualifier against Rwanda for Kigali for March 21, 2025. Fans appear with different branded outfits, show say unity no dey. Meeting for May 31, 2025, for Teslim Balogun Stadium for Lagos further deepen tensions.
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With IMC tenure end for February 13, 2026 without elections or transition plan, Abdullahi say concerns over financial transparency don become more pronounced. “There must be answers. Stakeholders deserve to know wetin happen during tenure of IMC, especially regarding im finances and why elections no conduct as agreed,” im add.
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Abdullahi warn say Nigeria failure to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup no suppose be excuse to abandon unification process. As 2027 Africa Cup of Nations dey approach, im warn say absence of unified supporters’ structure fit pose serious challenges for coordination and fan mobilisation.
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