Tag: world cup qualifier

Nigerians have taken to social media to slam the Super Eagles team for their poor performance against Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

TheNewsGuru reports that Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup slimmed as they drew with Zimbabwe Warriors.

Victor Osimhen‘s header in the 74th minute that put the Eagles in the lead could not boost the chances of Nigeria as 90th minute strike of Zimbabwe’s 21-year-old Tawanda Chirewa caused a draw.

Reacting to the development, Nigerians, who could not hide their disappointment took to social media to vent their frustrations.

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.”

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, 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.”