As the Super Eagles prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, concerns over indiscipline within the team have surfaced, with former players pointing fingers at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for fostering a culture of lawlessness in the national camp. The players spoke with Vanguard newspaper.
The Super Eagles are currently in a precarious position in Group C of the qualifiers, with only three points from their initial matches. They are currently in fifth place, behind teams like South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, and Lesotho, which were previously considered less competitive. The team will need to win all six of their remaining matches to secure a top spot in the group, with a total of 23 points, if they are to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama did not mince words when speaking about the issue. He accused the NFF of enabling the indiscipline within the team.
“The football house (NFF) should be the gatekeeper of rules and regulations,” Enyeama said. “They should know when the players are supposed to be in camp. They should have their schedule, like when they played for their clubs. They should hit camp a day after playing for their clubs. Unfortunately, here you find players reporting to camp two or three days after featuring for their clubs without any action or sanction on them.”
Enyeama’s frustration reflects growing concerns that poor management and a lack of discipline could be the undoing of the Super Eagles as they chase their World Cup dream.
Another former Super Eagles star, Victor Agali, echoed similar sentiments, blaming the NFF for the mismanagement and chaos within the team. Agali, who was a prominent figure in Nigerian football during his time, expressed his dismay over the current state of the national team.
“I don’t know if they really care about the image of Nigerian football,” Agali said. “It saddens my heart to know that our management is really the problem of the national team. And I ask, what is the support they have given to the coaches?”
The lack of effective leadership and accountability in the NFF, Agali believes, is damaging the Super Eagles’ chances of success on the international stage. His words highlight a deeper issue — that it is not only the players but also the governing body that is contributing to the downfall of Nigerian football.
Ogenyi Onazi, another former Super Eagles player, also voiced his concerns about the team’s discipline and commitment. Onazi highlighted that, in the past, being called up to the national team was a great honor, with players taking pride in wearing the green and white jersey.
“It was a thing of joy being invited to the camp of the Super Eagles and the invited players treasured it,” Onazi said. “Now, all manner of players are invited to the team and it has lowered standard.”
Onazi went further to express his belief that discipline and respect for the team were essential components of the Super Eagles’ success. He stressed that simply inviting players based on their club performances, without considering their behavior or commitment, has negatively affected the team’s unity and morale.
“Invitation to the national team is not all about who’s doing well in his club,” Onazi said. “Discipline, respect, and comportment were also considered. Now, all manner of players get invitations to the team and they’ve sacrificed the unity, the brotherhood that existed in the team.”
He called for a strict code of conduct within the Super Eagles to restore the discipline and unity that once made the team formidable. Onazi’s call for regulations within the squad highlights the need for both on-field performance and off-field behavior to be held to high standards.
While many former players have been careful not to single out individuals, it is clear that they hold the NFF accountable for much of the chaos in the national team. Allegations have been raised that certain powerful figures within the NFF have undue influence over player selection, bringing in “special players” without the knowledge or consent of the team’s coach.
Some former players have suggested that these “sacred cows” feel above the law, further exacerbating the problems of indiscipline within the team. These allegations point to a deeper issue within the NFF, where favoritism and poor management have created a toxic environment that undermines the success of the Super Eagles.
