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  • Sports Minister Directs NFF to Establish Measures for Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification

    Sports Minister Directs NFF to Establish Measures for Super Eagles’ World Cup Qualification

    The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has ordered the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to highlight plans that will help secure the Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup qualification.

    Mr. Enoh disclosed this in a meeting with the NFF and the coach of the team, Finidi George on Thursday.

    “Yesterday the 13th of June, I met with @thenff and Coach Finidi. I directed the Nigeria Football Federation to urgently put in place the necessary framework to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in addition to addressing issues that have hindered high performances and growth of Nigerian football,” he stated on X, formerly Twitter on Friday.

    Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh in a meeting with NFF officials and Finidi George on Thursday, June 13 (Photo Credit: @OwanEnoh on X)
    The minister also directed the NFF to take proactive and progressive steps immediately, especially touching on various areas including the current coach of the national team, the competence of both the NFF Technical Committee and Technical Department as well as the discipline of players in the national team camp.

    “We further admonished the NFF on the introduction of new fruits of Nigerian players wherever they can be found, to ensure the best legs represent the country at every given time,” he added.

    Senator Enoh gave the NFF officials and its technical team a week to present its comprehensive position, indicating the positive progressive steps that have been taken to get the team ready for the next round of competitive matches, emphasizing that “we honestly do not want excuses”.

    Nigeria has managed to secure a point in the last two games of the qualification stage having played out a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo – and lost 2-1 to Benin Republic, a side ‘managed’ by the former gaffer of the team, Gernot Rohr.

    The Super Eagles currently sit fifth with 3 points after four games in Group C, while Zimbabwe is placed bottom of the group having amassed 2 points.

    Rwanda leads the group with 7 points, tied on the same tally with South Africa and the Benin Republic in second and third respectively, while Lesotho has gathered 5 points in fourth place.

    While nine (9) African teams are expected to participate at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with a possibility of one more in the ‘FIFA Play-off Tournament’, it looks delicately poised for Nigeria to be amongst the participants.

     

  • Finidi Reportedly Resigns as Super Eagles Head Coach

    Finidi Reportedly Resigns as Super Eagles Head Coach

    The former Ajax player has faced heavy criticisms from Nigerian football fans after Nigeria’s last two 2026 World Cup qualification games against South Africa and Benin.

    Finidi led the team to a 1-1 draw against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo – and suffered a 2-1 loss to Benin.

    Following the unfavorable results, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a communique on Thursday expressed readiness to appoint a foreign technical adviser to manage the Super Eagles.

    “The Executive Committee wholeheartedly apologized to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in four out of 10 matches in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

    “The committee resolved to beef up the NFF Technical Department with more qualitative hands. Equally, the Technical and Development Sub-Committee will be re-jigged with immediate effect,” the communique reads in part.

    It is unconfirmed if the decision of the NFF has led to the reported resignation of the former Nigerian international.

    Nigeria in Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualification stage occupies fifth position having amassed 3 points; Zimbabwe is placed bottom of the group with 2 points.

    Similarly, Rwanda tops the group with 7 points; tied on the same tally with South Africa and Benin in second and third respectively, while Lesotho has accumulated 5 points in fourth place.