Former Super Eagles forward, Peter Osaze Odemwingie has swelled the league of former players who are not impressed with the recent performances of the senior men’s national team especially in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Odemwingie particularly mentioned the last World Cup qualifier against the Warriors of Zimbabwe where the Super Eagles threw away their lead with few minutes to go, blaming it on decision-making error from the coach Eric Chelle.
In an interview with Ifeanyi Udeze on Brila FM’s “No Holds Barred” show, Odemwingie said, “I’ve been following Nigeria’s results closely. We’re struggling to secure victories, and we’re learning the hard way. It would be embarrassing to miss out on two consecutive World Cups. Watching the national team, I see that we’re not playing the kind of football we’re known for. We need to be more tactical and learn from our mistakes.”
“We were dominating the game (against Zimbabwe), leading at one point, but the players became fatigued. When that happens, it’s important to make changes, close the gaps between the lines and hold onto the lead,” he explained.
“This is something big teams must know how to do if they want to qualify for major tournaments
like the World Cup. We shouldn’t underestimate our opponents, even if they don’t have star
names,” he added.
The 43-year-old remains optimistic about Nigeria’s World Cup chances, saying that if they win
all their remaining matches and get favorable results from other teams, qualification is still
possible.
Odemwingie also revealed that he is on the path to becoming a coach.
“I’ve signed up for the UEFA coaching badges, and the program starts in June at the West Bromwich Albion academy. Hopefully, in a couple of years, I’ll progress and eventually become a coach.”
