African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[Roseline492]

That Rwandan player has ruined everything for the super eagles because the hope of winning South Africans by chance is no longer strong as we were thinking, perhaps the player plan was to really remove Osimhen from there match against them so that our front line will be empty without an enforcer so that they could win the eagles but nothing happened. Honestly without Osimhen against South Africans we can't win them because Osimhen personality is just one in the whole super eagles, although some others are fine but Osimhen is mostly the one who can do all the coordination on that front.

Osimhen is who he is today because he can single handedly change a game, win a match and bring the 3 points home, that differentiates him from any other Nigerian player out there, his presence is significant in the super eagles team, especially now that we need him the most to try to qualify. Osimhen's going on an injury or not participate in the against South Africa would be a no choice.

Whenever I see Victor Osimhen on the match list of either the first people or the players who would be coming on the second half after some are already getting exhausted, is actually when there is much hope for the club to win and you would be seeing Victor Osimhen more challenging than his usual self, Osimhen cannot see his country depending on just a wining to qualify and he will be relenting. The time they even equalize with South Africa was the best time being the first half so that they would do everything they had in mind in other to qualify, actually if not that he was too important against Rwanda it could have been better not to play that match in other to have been present with South Africa.

[Zigabel]

This has always been my prayer every time because we all know that the supper Eagles is not performing well, but watching the World Cup without seeing them makes no sense at all. Because no matter how poor performance your country used to be, let it be that they try luck with other countries, than for them to just give up in the qualifying stage. However, I just hope they get a win with those two remaining countries because it will definitely be a very big slap if they failed to qualified in this 2026 World Cup.

sometimes i almost feel like giving up on the super Eagles Honestly because seeing there performance, if they eventually get to qualify for the world cup, the chances they will do any better is still very low so it just feels like it is needless for them to qualify because they will still not do anything apart form just the experience and the representation that we had Nigeria at the world Cup. our coach even acts clueless of what he should do with the players, he has a good team with talented players but do not know how well to position them and the strategy they will use at all times to achieving that which they should, he just looks like they literally just come to play just hoping to win without an actual winning plan.

Nevertheless i wish for them to qualify and go get the world cup experience since they have not had it for a very long while as a country. It will be a thing of slight joy that we have a representation at the world cup so for that sake i wish they qualify and not that i will be expecting any much from them because i don't think they can give beyond that mostly.

[Fiatless]

Whenever I see Victor Osimhen on the match list of either the first people or the players who would be coming on the second half after some are already getting exhausted, is actually when there is much hope for the club to win and you would be seeing Victor Osimhen more challenging than his usual self, Osimhen cannot see his country depending on just a wining to qualify and he will be relenting. The time they even equalize with South Africa was the best time being the first half so that they would do everything they had in mind in other to qualify, actually if not that he was too important against Rwanda it could have been better not to play that match in other to have been present with South Africa.

Victor is more than three players put together in the Super Eagles. He would have tormented the South African defence until they made mistakes or cause a penalty. I watched our last game and I felt sorry for the National Team without Osimhen. No striker was willing or able to take the risk of solo runs which was bad. The South African defence was partially on holiday because instead of attacking, our players were busy slowing the game and taking balls back to our half. It was indeed a pathetic situation.  

[Roseline492]

Whenever I see Victor Osimhen on the match list of either the first people or the players who would be coming on the second half after some are already getting exhausted, is actually when there is much hope for the club to win and you would be seeing Victor Osimhen more challenging than his usual self, Osimhen cannot see his country depending on just a wining to qualify and he will be relenting. The time they even equalize with South Africa was the best time being the first half so that they would do everything they had in mind in other to qualify, actually if not that he was too important against Rwanda it could have been better not to play that match in other to have been present with South Africa.

Victo is more than three players. He would have tormented the South African defence until they make mistake or cause a penalty. I watched our last game and I felt sorry for the National Team without Osimhen. No striker was willing or able to take the risk of solo runs which was bad. The South African defence was partially on holiday because instead of attacking, our players were busy slowing the game and taking balls back to our half. It was indeed a pathetic situation. 

Of course he is, for a country who has face him a lot and see how he plays like someone who is two and half in one person would have gotten excited of his injury since they would now have players they can manage. A player like him I no how moody is going to be for him especially knowing what his appearance would have done. Cyriel Kolawole was his replacement on the match and since it wasn't the original player on that forward there was no pressure, though he could have worked absolutely amazing alongside with Osimhen. For our two side back and centre are all okay especially our side 3 Aina, from his body language and effectiveness of the position is encouraging one.

[Africolo]

11 points from 8 games.

Yup. We're pretty much cooked at this point after that loss to South Africa. I think there's a probability that we don't even make the list of best second place teams to go into the intercontinental playoffs.

What's more fascinating is the fact that he current super eagles team have more stars than our legends and yet, we struggle in almost every game to win convincingly.

If we continue like this, National football in Nigeria is NGMI.

When are we ever going to have a stable starting Ix and build the team around some couple of players instead of inviting different players every international break?

The difference between this current team and what we had back then is stability and continuity. We had one team for a longer time, they played together and built chemistry over the time. Tody is different. We don't deserve to play in the world cup, the players should be ashamed at themselves.

[Youngrebel]

This has always been my prayer every time because we all know that the supper Eagles is not performing well, but watching the World Cup without seeing them makes no sense at all. Because no matter how poor performance your country used to be, let it be that they try luck with other countries, than for them to just give up in the qualifying stage. However, I just hope they get a win with those two remaining countries because it will definitely be a very big slap if they failed to qualified in this 2026 World Cup.

sometimes i almost feel like giving up on the super Eagles Honestly because seeing there performance, if they eventually get to qualify for the world cup, the chances they will do any better is still very low so it just feels like it is needless for them to qualify because they will still not do anything apart form just the experience and the representation that we had Nigeria at the world Cup. our coach even acts clueless of what he should do with the players, he has a good team with talented players but do not know how well to position them and the strategy they will use at all times to achieving that which they should, he just looks like they literally just come to play just hoping to win without an actual winning plan.

Nevertheless i wish for them to qualify and go get the world cup experience since they have not had it for a very long while as a country. It will be a thing of slight joy that we have a representation at the world cup so for that sake i wish they qualify and not that i will be expecting any much from them because i don't think they can give beyond that mostly.

I have said this before there is no need for the Super Eagles to qualify in this tournament because they will still only disappoint us by not doing well in the group stage of the tournament so it is better they should should not qualify. After the draw with South Africa, many Nigerians now saying to change the coach but as for me the problem is not from the coach but the players. Super Eagles will not qualify in this World Cup because they can't win the remaining two games straight a way. Let them just come home and watch the tournament to learn things to perform in their next matches.
Some were blaming NFF, Eric Chelle and the players while Eric Chelle was blaming the CAF before the game started because of the pitch chosen. Some said Victor Osimhen fake his injury well all those are just blame game. The present team in the Super Eagles has nothing to offer.

[₿itcoin]

I would have to agree with you on this, because I don't understand the kind of pitch that the South African FA chose to use for the qualifying match Vs Nigeria. It's just as if it was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the other team with the pitch. It's not even looking nice, as if it's a match between two village teams up against eachother. The Nigerian team doesn't really understand what's at stake, maybe they don't want to qualify for the world cup because they have never been serious since the start of the qualifiers.

The funny thing about this whole set up by South Africa is that even though their plan was to frustrate Nigeria by choosing a venue that's not sound, they too were not exempt because we saw how their own players were carted away injured. I've noticed something; teams who want to frustrate their opponents would choose a very bad location that their visitors aren't familiar with so that they won't be able to play well and they the hosts would be able to call the shots. I also noticed this sort of thing happening in the Bolivia vs Brazil game (I know it's not a topic to be discussed here but I just brought it up for reference).

You are right bro,  since homefield advantage is real & quantifiable, picking a hostile location or a rough pitch is a legitimate home tactic.  However it could also backfire mate, because you know in subpar surfaces players make mistakes more likely & increase the chance of getting hurt.  you know many people criticised the free state pitch &  held it responsible for the injury during the match between South Africa & Nigeria.  Additionally the organiser team has a real advantage due to the altitude which is a harsh factor, as you mentioned Bolivia in La Paz/El Alto, i've also seen that match.  In other words yeah its tactical & risky even sometimes its self destructive

[Ronsbit]

snip

snip

Whenever I see Victor Osimhen on the match list of either the first people or the players who would be coming on the second half after some are already getting exhausted, is actually when there is much hope for the club to win and you would be seeing Victor Osimhen more challenging than his usual self, Osimhen cannot see his country depending on just a wining to qualify and he will be relenting. The time they even equalize with South Africa was the best time being the first half so that they would do everything they had in mind in other to qualify, actually if not that he was too important against Rwanda it could have been better not to play that match in other to have been present with South Africa.

Seems this coach does not really know how to utilize players in their capacity, and also he does not know the players to reserve for the next important match. Some matches should be a walkover for the Super Eagles, like the Rwandan match, he should  not have played some key players when he knows that we have a tough opponent like SA  but just because we needed to win the game to get some point he had to play them all and missed a key player who could have functioned properly the SA match. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks before lining up players for the next match.

[Spaceman1000$]

That Rwandan player has ruined everything for the super eagles because the hope of winning South Africans by chance is no longer strong as we were thinking, perhaps the player plan was to really remove Osimhen from there match against them so that our front line will be empty without an enforcer so that they could win the eagles but nothing happened. Honestly without Osimhen against South Africans we can't win them because Osimhen personality is just one in the whole super eagles, although some others are fine but Osimhen is mostly the one who can do all the coordination on that front.

Osimhen is who he is today because he can single handedly change a game, win a match and bring the 3 points home, that differentiates him from any other Nigerian player out there, his presence is significant in the super eagles team, especially now that we need him the most to try to qualify. Osimhen's going on an injury or not participate in the against South Africa would be a no choice.

Whenever I see Victor Osimhen on the match list of either the first people or the players who would be coming on the second half after some are already getting exhausted, is actually when there is much hope for the club to win and you would be seeing Victor Osimhen more challenging than his usual self, Osimhen cannot see his country depending on just a wining to qualify and he will be relenting. The time they even equalize with South Africa was the best time being the first half so that they would do everything they had in mind in other to qualify, actually if not that he was too important against Rwanda it could have been better not to play that match in other to have been present with South Africa.

Victor Osimhen needed to have played the both matches, just that the unfortunate incident happened and he was off for the second match. His absence affected the Nigerian front Line attack, as he would have done a better assist to Ademola Lookman than the striker that was used. South Africa didn't play much in that encounter, the goal they even had was even an own goal from Ekong, else it would have been a winner for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

[snipie]

Victor Osimhen needed to have played the both matches, just that the unfortunate incident happened and he was off for the second match. His absence affected the Nigerian front Line attack, as he would have done a better assist to Ademola Lookman than the striker that was used. South Africa didn't play much in that encounter, the goal they even had was even an own goal from Ekong, else it would have been a winner for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

South Africa is the first in the ranking of group C, they have a good margin from Benin and Nigeria and nothing makes them rushing to collect the 3 points from that match against Super Eagles so collecting a point isn't that bad. They aren't stressed at the opposite of Nigeria's players and staff who are under huge pressure for not qualifying, especially in this extended version.
Nigeria should look forward in the future and start considering their choices, they cannot continue with big names on papers and no result in real life.

[Cityhunter34]

This has always been my prayer every time because we all know that the supper Eagles is not performing well, but watching the World Cup without seeing them makes no sense at all. Because no matter how poor performance your country used to be, let it be that they try luck with other countries, than for them to just give up in the qualifying stage. However, I just hope they get a win with those two remaining countries because it will definitely be a very big slap if they failed to qualified in this 2026 World Cup.

sometimes i almost feel like giving up on the super Eagles Honestly because seeing there performance, if they eventually get to qualify for the world cup, the chances they will do any better is still very low so it just feels like it is needless for them to qualify because they will still not do anything apart form just the experience and the representation that we had Nigeria at the world Cup. our coach even acts clueless of what he should do with the players, he has a good team with talented players but do not know how well to position them and the strategy they will use at all times to achieving that which they should, he just looks like they literally just come to play just hoping to win without an actual winning plan.

Nevertheless i wish for them to qualify and go get the world cup experience since they have not had it for a very long while as a country. It will be a thing of slight joy that we have a representation at the world cup so for that sake i wish they qualify and not that i will be expecting any much from them because i don't think they can give beyond that mostly.

I have said this before there is no need for the Super Eagles to qualify in this tournament because they will still only disappoint us by not doing well in the group stage of the tournament so it is better they should should not qualify. After the draw with South Africa, many Nigerians now saying to change the coach but as for me the problem is not from the coach but the players. Super Eagles will not qualify in this World Cup because they can't win the remaining two games straight a way. Let them just come home and watch the tournament to learn things to perform in their next matches.
Some were blaming NFF, Eric Chelle and the players while Eric Chelle was blaming the CAF before the game started because of the pitch chosen. Some said Victor Osimhen fake his injury well all those are just blame game. The present team in the Super Eagles has nothing to offer.

Honestly this our players are not impressing us at all, they are not doing what we expected. Because with the quality of players in Super Eagles now winning a match won't have a problem to them, but still they keep on making the same mistake everytime. Though, sometimes I used to wonder why they can not easily make us proud for ones, we all know that football is not that easy but at least they are supposed to make a change to enable us feel happy and support them more, than for us to be complaining all the time. So I just want them to qualify because it definitely going to be a very big shame if they miss this tournament.

[CryptSafe]

Honestly this our players are not impressing us at all, they are not doing what we expected. Because with the quality of players in Super Eagles now winning a match won't have a problem to them, but still they keep on making the same mistake everytime. Though, sometimes I used to wonder why they can not easily make us proud for ones, we all know that football is not that easy but at least they are supposed to make a change to enable us feel happy and support them more, than for us to be complaining all the time. So I just want them to qualify because it definitely going to be a very big shame if they miss this tournament.

It is very disappointing to say that the Super Eagles are still struggling to win a match with the full squad they have at their disposal. No one would ever believe that it would be this difficult for them to qualify for the World Cup tournament, looking at the list of players they have. It is quite disappointing, though, but if they do not qualify for the tournament, it would be a big shame on them, and possibly the team would be overhauled, coupled with the coach, for a new start. Far gone are the days when the Super Eagles were the hit makers in tournaments, entertaining millions of viewers all over the world, which made them gain fans who turn up whenever the Eagles have a match to play in any part of the world.

[uche6215]

Nigerian is gone in this World  and let us discuss about other good teams and support them. When the Super Eagles are ready to play the World Cup in the future we will know and not now. And since the Super Eagles were from the Group C of the Qualifiers stage, we should support South Africa to participate in the World Cup.

[Callido]

With the way the team play they are already discouraging everyone that supports them. They don't play with their full hearts they don't give their all for their country the way other players do for their country as it is very disappointing. I am not surprised again because this performance has been there for a while now with no improvements, it's disappointing not to qualify for the world cup but with this performance i think not qualifying will do us a favor of not being humiliated at the world cup.

Have you seen the latest video after they played the match against South Africa, the plane that came to pick Tolu as well carried the other London players, there was no emotion from the guys, i didn't expect them to cry about it but there should be some behaviours to indicate feeling bad for where we have ended up, knowing they aren't playing upto expectations.

It is best not to place strong hope on our qualification, if we beat dear luck then so be it.

[Nheer]

Snip

Have you seen the latest video after they played the match against South Africa, the plane that came to pick Tolu as well carried the other London players, there was no emotion from the guys, i didn't expect them to cry about it but there should be some behaviours to indicate feeling bad for where we have ended up, knowing they aren't playing upto expectations.

It is best not to place strong hope on our qualification, if we beat dear luck then so be it.

Exactly they are not really feeling remorse or showing any emotion about the performance and that means they don't really value their national success that much or they don't have that deep love for their country. I know it's bad to not pay the players but that shouldn't be a reason to not give your all for your country because at the end of your career you will still come back home, your country is your home no matter how rich you are.
Just look at how other African country players play for their country, I envy country like Senegal they are really doing everything to take their country up there. I don't really have any hope for the qualification anymore.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Seems this coach does not really know how to utilize players in their capacity, and also he does not know the players to reserve for the next important match. Some matches should be a walkover for the Super Eagles, like the Rwandan match, he should  not have played some key players when he knows that we have a tough opponent like SA  but just because we needed to win the game to get some point he had to play them all and missed a key player who could have functioned properly the SA match. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks before lining up players for the next match.

That's the problem and we shouldn't blame the coach at all, he never got us to this horrible position, he came and met us in this disappointing position so he's doing his best and we shouldn't expect a miracle to happen, he also needed a win and just because the team is in a very tight corner he had to play every available player just to secure the 3 pt, as we have seen the Eagles in so many games, they struggle to play like a bigger nation against every smaller country and now we see every game as a very Crucial game that's why you see the coach playing every key player without minding how the next game would be like because he had to get something in the game in front of him first before facing country like South Africa that we all see it as the most important [but I don't see it that way].
We can't just sit down without doing our home work and expect a good result, that's what is disturbing the Super Eagles, starting early to win your games and wait for the difficult one as the last game, that's what South Africa did and they planned very well...we all say we should try and qualify to the world cup but the question is, do they [Super Eagles] deserve to be at the world cup?

[Franctoshi]

With the way the team play they are already discouraging everyone that supports them. They don't play with their full hearts they don't give their all for their country the way other players do for their country as it is very disappointing. I am not surprised again because this performance has been there for a while now with no improvements, it's disappointing not to qualify for the world cup but with this performance i think not qualifying will do us a favor of not being humiliated at the world cup.

There maybe some internal problem that we're not aware of which has led to the poor display or performance of these players and the team as whole. I doubt if the players or the past players are treated with passion  they won't give in their best bring  honors to the country.

Have you seen the latest video after they played the match against South Africa, the plane that came to pick Tolu as well carried the other London players, there was no emotion from the guys, i didn't expect them to cry about it but there should be some behaviours to indicate feeling bad for where we have ended up, knowing they aren't playing upto expectations.

It is best not to place strong hope on our qualification, if we beat dear luck then so be it.

We the supporters and fans that are watching them outside are the feeling it, whereas they, the players don't really care much, and after all, they will get paid, so why would they even get bothered.

[nelson4lov]

~Snip

The new coach is a disgrace, he doesn't know how to get the best from the players. Look at how he played Lookman out of position and the boy was struggling all through the game. Lets not give up hope yet, we do better when we're calculating and I won't be surprised if the super egales find out a way somehow to qualify. We not playing at the world cup means our stars players will be in their 30's when the next world cup comes and that means they won't be at their prime and that's a shame. We had some decent players in a long time and they couldn't get us to qualify for the world cup. It looks like I'm dreaming because I can't believe this is happening. Is there still hope, yes but very unlikely to happen but let us keep watching.

All hope is not lost but i think I speak for everyone when I say that we'd rather prefer to get a direct ticket to the world cup by placing first in the group. Right now, the reality is that we might not even get second place if Benin wins and draw their last 2 games. The only way I see us even getting a shot at the intercontinental playoffs for best second placed teams is if we win our remaining 2 matches and either South Africa or Benin or both teams drop points in any of their last 2 games.

I don't like whenever super eagles leave everything to chance. With the calibre of players we have in this team rn, we should be blasting teams throughout this qualifiers.

[Lida93]

Seems this coach does not really know how to utilize players in their capacity, and also he does not know the players to reserve for the next important match. Some matches should be a walkover for the Super Eagles, like the Rwandan match, he should  not have played some key players when he knows that we have a tough opponent like SA  but just because we needed to win the game to get some point he had to play them all and missed a key player who could have functioned properly the SA match. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks before lining up players for the next match.

Each of the games for Nigeria was an important game that winning it to earn the 3 points was a must and I wouldn't blame Eric Chelle at all for not reserving any key players in the Nigeria Vs Rwanda game. Should the coach had reserved Osimhen or any other key player in that game and peradventure Nigeria draw the match and later won against South Africa, it still wouldn't have changed a thing.

[Futurexxx]

Seems this coach does not really know how to utilize players in their capacity, and also he does not know the players to reserve for the next important match. Some matches should be a walkover for the Super Eagles, like the Rwandan match, he should  not have played some key players when he knows that we have a tough opponent like SA  but just because we needed to win the game to get some point he had to play them all and missed a key player who could have functioned properly the SA match. Sometimes I wonder what he thinks before lining up players for the next match.

Each of the games for Nigeria was an important game that winning it to earn the 3 points was a must and I wouldn't blame Eric Chelle at all for not reserving any key players in the Nigeria Vs Rwanda game. Should the coach had reserved Osimhen or any other key player in that game and peradventure Nigeria draw the match and later won against South Africa, it still wouldn't have changed a thing.

Eric chelle has done well during his short stay as the coach of our super eagles team even though our super eagles are in a tight Conner in the group standings, and those that put us in such a sorry state is our NFF and the first two coaches in charge of the super eagles team before his arrival, so I wouldn't put much blame on him about our league standings because no one in his right sense will be reserving his best players when he knows that both games are a must win games, but since their is no need feeling pity for ourselves, is for him and his super eagles team to try and look if they can secure the second spot that qualifys them for a play off spot, because the top spot position has been lost.