The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied knowledge of a post-match statement that criticised Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong and Cyriel Dessers after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The statement, issued by the NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, singled out Dessers and Troost-Ekong for criticism.
It accused Dessers of being sluggish and faulted Ekong for the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead.
“Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he turned out to be a substitute that was substituted, did not have a better game as he was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack.”
Concerning Troost-Ekong, the statement noted:“The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain William Ekong inadvertently swept the ball into his own net in the 25th minute, wrong-footing Stanley Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus.”
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: Osimhen Faked His Injury Vs Rwanda –Gyan
However, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said on Wednesday that the statement did not represent the official position of the Federation.
“I saw the release just like everyone else did. Nobody in the Federation is happy with it, the NFF did not authorise that statement. We have great respect for all the players. Blaming an individual for a team result is unfair.
“When we win, it’s a team victory. When we lose, it’s also collective. No player should be singled out.
“It was an unfortunate own goal. His intention was to clear the ball. Anyone who knows football understands that such things happen.”
Sanusi also expressed confidence in the team’s unity, revealing that efforts were ongoing to regroup and refocus ahead of the remaining qualifiers and AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
“Our house is in order. We’re preparing for the rest of the qualifiers and the AFCON in Morocco,” he said.
“There’s no problem with our players or coaching crew. Our relationship remains cordial. The government and the NFF are proud of the players’ efforts.”
Sanusi made it clear that internal disciplinary action would be taken over the unauthorised press statement.
“I can assure you the NFF will take action on the matter,” he said.
The Super Eagles currently occupy third spot in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 11 points from eight matches. South Africa lead the group with 17 points.
The team must now win their remaining games against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October, and hope results in other fixtures go their way to stand a chance of ecure qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
By James Agberebi
10 Comments
NFF denies knowledge?
They knew.
They wanted diversion from them.
Oh, what arrogance to say afcon 2025 is on their mind.
With respect to morality, they should have all resigned last Tuesday.
On a second note, it would have been too hasty.
Let them successfully supervise the end of our world cup dream on October 13th and bite the dust.
Afcon 2025 workings my foot.
They are testing us sha.
What audacity.
If they had known, they’d had fixed 2nd term elections sooner but now the chicken has come home to roost.
They should perish their afcon dream.
Cyril Dessers former club, Rangers, made a big deal out of the story too. It was emotional.
After toiling for that club, he was thoroughly ridiculed and screenshot of NFF thoughts were captured by them.
NFF OUT!
OCTOBER 13TH AWAITS
Aha. The rejoinder is from the General Secretary, Sanusi that had railroaded every other interested person for his position last year to be re-appointed for another term of three years (2024 to 2027).
Even FIFA congratulated the “fraudulent appointment” according to people who believed in “zoning mismatch”:
North – President (Gusau)
North – General Secretary (Sanusi)
It’s good we are living with the outcome of people not bowing out with grace but ignominy.
October 13th no far again.
Is it bandwagon effect they call it.
We will know if 3 years tenure is sancrosant after our darling GS “supervises successfully” 2 straight FIFA world cup qualifiers FAILURE and still remain in that office by October ending.
Na only one person dey Nigeria to deliver us?
We will know.
No government interference abi?
Next month, GS, next month.
IF NFF didn’t authorize it, then get Ademola Olajire sacked or removed. Retaining him authenticates that ridiculous press statement. Leave the individual’s criticisms and praises to fans. People in public offices should only do that in private.
In fact, if anyone is to be blamed for the current predicament, it’s all of you in the NFF, and Olajire in particular is a nuthead. You guys take years to appoint a coach, and when you do, you bungle it like you did when we lost a seasoned gaffer in Bruno Labbadia.
NFF should resign. First, Demola Olajire should go. It was the same loudmouth motor park agbero that was abusing Randy Waldrum with no decorum.
Instead of us blaming the players , doubting Osimhen’s dedication, we should be calling for the buffoons in the NFF to resign. They are basically useless and failures.
It’s absurd—utterly absurd—that Nigeria now has to sit around hoping FIFA deducts points from South Africa before we can dream of qualifying. Since when did the “Giant of Africa” become so helpless? In all my years as a Super Eagles fan, I’ve never felt this humiliated. How did we sink this low—relying on miracles, calculators, and courtroom drama to get to the World Cup, while also praying to win away against the group leaders with just three matches left?
Look at South Africa: making the maximum from the minimum. Look at Nigeria: wasting the maximum to produce the minimum. We’re a laughingstock. With all our stars, with all the money poured in, this team has turned into nothing but a cash cow for the rogues in suits at the NFF. Gusau and his crew? National disgrace.
If I were President, I’d pull the Eagles out of the qualifiers this minute, disband the entire team, dissolve the NFF, and initiate real reforms—even if it means a FIFA ban. Because honestly, what are we doing now besides burning money and embarrassing the nation?
And think of it: when Africa had 3 slots, we qualified. When Africa had 5 slots, we qualified. Now that Africa has 10 slots—we are missing out! *Giants of Africa?* Please. Better to be a dwarf who delivers than a bloated giant with nothing to show.
I’m sick, I’m tired, and I’m ashamed.
It’s so shameful… even some forumites here openly blamed dessers for the 1-1 draw against south Africa…I was like sebi football na team sport… The guy self was not part of the qualification process all along…he got a late call so how is it hus fault…una expect am to do miracle? When una no do miracle since….
2026 world cup qualifiers
Issues or matters arising.
1. Nigerian football federation has failed Nigerians. The organisation could not hire a competent foriegn coach right from the moment we commenced the qualification matches. The nff failed to address the fraudulent fixtures that gave the south African team unfair advantage. Zimbabwe, lesotho were busy playing the so called home matches in south Africa.
Nff ought to have raised the matter with fifa that those matches be played in windoek in namiba or in Swaziland or Angola. Namibia and Angola have the facilities to accommodate this teams.
2. They are players in current super eagles that have no business playing for the team. Some have lost thier form such as ekong .he contributed immensely to our impending exit from the world cup.
Players like ndidi are not consistent .why not give opportunities to raph onyhidike of club brugge. We must give all our players the opportunity to fight for shirt.moffi,tella and others should be afforded opportunity to compete for shirts.. we need to overhaul the team.
3.nff board should tender thier resignation. If they are not ready to quit the president should get ready of this bunch of incompetent football administrators. I dont really care about fifa so called suspension. Countries that fifa suspended in Africa before are currently performing more than Nigeria in the qualifying series.
4.we need a new coach that will take us to afcon.
5.the current technical director of nff must resgn along with the members of nff. Cerezo has to go .nobody should appiont him as super eagles manager again. He was involved in the process that led to the appointment of the current coach.
6.nigeria should laise with other African countries to oppose the reelection of the current south African president of caf. He is not fair to other teams in our group.
What does this man mean by “we have no knowledge of the post”……is NFF’s socials handled by ghosts…..LMAOoo
What nauseating incompetence. These guys are so incompetent you would want to smack them in the face.
By now someone should have received a sack letter and the nff released a press statement to that effect.
Incompetence all over…..from the administrative to the technical to the marketing to the communications department……incompetence all over the running of our football.
Who did we offend……who do us like this
Since CSN moderator has insisted on deleting my comments, I encourage whosoever that’l is doing it to , it will soon hit CSN.. You are encouraging some nasty and agenda filled comments but deleting constructive ones.
All my unpublished comments are saved for future reference.
As a law abiding person thatunderstands my right, iyou will soon hear from the appropriate institutions Shame on you.
A lot of things are wrong, but I see it as physical, cultural and spiritual. The decline of the Nigerian national football team isn’t just about a few bad games. It’s deeper, systemic issues, cultural dysfunction, and even spiritual or psychological detachment from purpose and pride. Missing back to back FIFA World Cups.
NFF Mismanagement and Corruption. The heart of the problem is the NFF. The NFF has consistently failed in its basic responsibilities: Late appointment of managers, leading to a lack of tactical identity or consistency. No payments of player bonuses and allowances, which destroys motivation and morale. Political interference in squad selection, where certain officials allegedly influence which players get called up, not based on merit, but tribal connections or favoritism.This level of dysfunction breeds mediocrity. It discourages professionalism, and it shows in the players’ performances. You cannot build a world class team on a foundation of corruption and disorganization. I mean it makes sense to me, the bigger the country the more corrupt it will be
Tribalism and Ethnic Favoritism. Tribalism still finds its way into squad dynamics. Over half the players are developers, who cant see this? I aint supporting no developer team. Certain ethnic groups dominate key areas of the pitch, particularly the midfield, which many argue is the weakest link in the team today. Read the comments on the instagram page. A lot of people are saying the same thing, no play makers and the midfield is non existent. Instead of selecting midfielders who can dictate the tempo, make incisive passes, and link play to the forwards, we see players who prioritize dribbling and flashy footwork over effectiveness. The result? A disconnected midfield with no creativity, starving the likes of osimhen, who is already struggling with injuries and can’t carry the team alone. I still remeber lookman at the afcon giving it to iwobi for not passing the ball.
Osimhen is not the whole team and I take back saying osimhen is faking injury but he is so injury prone that people think he is faking an injury to avoid playing in the national team. Top clubs didnt want to sign him up not because of his attitude. Its because of the price tag, playing for africa when afcon comes later this year and he is injury prone. You dont rely on a player who is injury prone or is consistently in and out of the line up especially because of afcon. Heck, nicholas jackson is upset that he is down the pecking order because hes been replaced by a european and south american.
Nigerians waiting for others to fail for their team to move on. FIFA hasn’t helped. The global body often turns a blind eye to administrative rot in African football. Instead of imposing meaningful sanctions or demanding reform, they just issue fines and allow these corrupt systems to stay. Because deeper intervention would require effort and might expose just how deep it goes.
Total overhaul of the NFF with real accountability and selection based strictly on merit, not tribal lines or connections.
I mean favour ofili dumped nigeria for turkey. And I still remember that nigerian american girl who did the hammer toss represented nigeria 2 olympics back and couldn’t participate because of the organization failing to register them. She switched representing america and won silver medal.
On a side note, has anyone seen the obi of lagos get arrested? Hahahaha, developers. Taking over lagos, and now ondo and football starting lineups