Former Nigerian international insists players must take responsibility
Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has blamed the Super Eagles players for the country’s precarious position in the qualifying rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while dismissing calls for the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee, reports Completesports.com.
Ikpeba: NFF has provided everything needed for success
Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football programme, Ikpeba insisted that critics calling for the resignation of the NFF executive committee “do not understand the efforts” the body has been making to ensure the Super Eagles qualify for the World Cup.
“Our players should take the lion’s share of the blame for our shoddy performance so far in the World Cup qualifiers,” Ikpeba said.
Also Read: Ikpeba: Super Eagles, Not England Should Have Capped Eze
He added: “They were given everything they needed to deliver qualification without stress, but somehow they have not lived up to expectations. I won’t question their commitment, but with the quality of players we have, Nigeria should not be struggling in our group.
“Why are some people calling for the resignation of the NFF? Do they expect committee members to come and play the game on the pitch?”
Ikpeba reiterated that the NFF provided good travel arrangements, quality accommodation and all necessary logistics, insisting the players had no excuse for failing to deliver results.
Ikpeba’s Praise for Chelle, criticism of former Super Eagles handlers
The “Prince of Monaco” also backed current Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, describing him as the right man to restore stability. Ikpeba argued that the team’s struggles stemmed from the two coaches who handled Nigeria’s opening four qualifiers.
“Chelle is doing a good job and I believe we wouldn’t be in this situation if he had started the qualifiers with the Super Eagles,” Ikpeba said.
Also Read: Akpom Eager To Play For Super Eagles
“He will create competition for places in the squad and make use of the talented players we have abroad. He hasn’t dismissed any player, but he is creating an environment for healthy competition by giving opportunities to different players to fight for a place.”
Ikpeba calls for discipline in Super Eagles camp
Ikpeba further identified off-field distractions as a major issue affecting the team, urging the NFF to ensure discipline moving forward.
“The biggest problem of the Super Eagles is the distraction in camp before and after matches. I expect the NFF to tackle that problem. Chelle can still lead Nigeria to the AFCON, irrespective of the outcome of our World Cup bid,” Ikpeba concluded.
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
7 Comments
Ikpeba, you’re an NFF board member, so I don’t expect you to say anything different.
Now you think if Chelle had started the qualifiers, we wouldn’t be in this mess. So why did you people appoint Finidi to throw away a whooping 5 points?
Why did it take you and your fellow confused board members 2 years to appoint Chelle? Was it so difficult like planning a NASA space launch? Why did you people bungle the appointment of the German Labbadia???
Why is South Africa playing almost 50% of the qualifiers at home (courtesy Lesotho and Zimbabwe) and NFF was helpless about it?? Why did South Africa take us to a rugby stadium and keep getting all the advantages like our team was an orphan with no bold FA?
Mr Ikpeba, please shut up.
Aptly stated @Kel
Why do we expect a complicit Ikpeba to be genuine with his stance. He’s as inept as the rest of the board of the NFF.
Here is a man boldly showing his incompetency rather than taking accountability, he is deflecting and passing the bulk on the players. Players that have shown far more dedication than this FA will ever do. Simply ludicrous.
In all facet, it’s just unfortunate that the Nigerian people are working hard to achieve but the powers that be keep holding us back. We keep fighting for miracles about things that are basic as drinking water. As much as I am proud, it’s simply dire being a Nigerian.
Thank you, Kel.
@Kel well put I don dey resign from forum. But thank God say you still dey around to speak the serial truth. Meanwhile CS you’re giving platform for fake stuffs and in the end it’s our sports that will suffer. You gave platform to an underperforming player called Bruno the last time and now it’s an incompetent FA board member to come and insult players who are having injuries because of their negligence. Next you approve amateurish posts from a kid young enough to be our son called monkey to be disrespecting well meaning people here because of sports. It’s not worth spending time on CS due to all this negative energy. I hope and pray for the best in Nigeria sports. Ofili is gone many might also leave if things does not change and it includes you media houses in the country.
Last world cup in Qatar Nigeria miss out,
Now we are about to miss out again oooooooooo.
Nigeria NFF will never learn from their selfish bad management, NFF system is very much corrupted for decades now.
Accept we changed our mindset by doing the right thing by using footballers to manage the affairs our football otherwise they will be no improvement.
I agree with Ikpeba that the larger blame should go to the players, even though I believe the NFF also has it’s share of the blame for the poor performance of the SE in the ongoing WCQ. The poor performance and lack of seriousness of players like Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Boniface etal when Osimhen was not available for the 1st 4 qualifying matches led to the precarious position SE of Nigeria found herself until Eric Chelle came on board to rescue an already lost cause from match day 5 and 6.
Also coaches Jose Paseiro and Finidi Judge were lackadaisical and not upto it and largely blew the chances of Nigeria before Coach Chelle came on board. In summary NFF, the first 2 coaches and the players have themselves to blame for the mess.
Lmao I agree with ikpeba…the players should be blamed especially osimhen..I mean we can’t have a player of that quality ( eto, drogba in one) and playing in the best league in the world (Turkish league) and then we will be struggling to qualify for wc… hahahaha