Former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye has blamed the constant reshuffling of players and coaches for the team’s struggles in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches despite being in a relatively easy group.
He has however, urged the players as they prepare for the decisive round of the qualifiers to give their all as they currently sit fourth in Group C with seven points, trailing leaders South Africa, who have 13 points, while Rwanda and Benin follow closely with eight points each.
Speaking on the Eagles’ qualification chances, Ideye acknowledged the team’s struggles in previous matches and emphasized the need for mental toughness to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“A lot of things went wrong in our previous games,” Ideye said in an interview with Brila FM.
“When you keep reshuffling players and coaches, the team bears the brunt.
“When the draw was made, everyone thought we had the easiest group. But I think we underestimated some of these teams, assuming they would be easy to beat.”
The former Super Eagles forward warned that opponents now approach games against Nigeria with maximum intensity: “Any team playing Nigeria is coming with their A-game. They won’t just sit back and watch us pass them by. For them, it’s everything they’ll do whatever it takes to qualify for the World Cup.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of the upcoming fixture: “I believe the players now understand that qualification won’t come easy. This next game is a do-or-die affair and extremely crucial for the country. Everyone must be fully focused and committed.”
