Clearly the surprising defeat the Rwandan team gave over to the Nigeria’s Super Eagles at our own natural turf had raised a ton of worry about Nigeria’s status, reality and capacity of confronting and overcoming any team that might come their direction.
The loss was doubtlessly a pointer that the Super Eagles are not completely prepared or ready for the impending challenges particularly the approaching Africa’s most prestigious competition..
As the majority of my colleagues properly noticed, the Super Eagles should refocus and address every one of their inadequacies and difficulties if they hope to compete effectively on the continental stage.
Without a doubt, they had already made it to AFCON 2025, so this Rwandan misfortune won’t stop them but however just act as a pointer for both the players and technical crew to awaken and plan for the impending tasks ahead.
Rwanda came fully prepared to win the game and made it because at first half, they held our team to a goalless draw and when the game was lighted to life again in the second half, they shocked the Super Eagles as they drew the first blood of the game and went additionally to scored one more which made it a 2-1 defeat.
But the Rwandan’s two goals in three minutes at our own turf had no doubt shocked not only Nigeria’s Super Eagles but the entire football followers in and out of the country because nobody anticipated it.
As most of us see the quality of football in Africa rises every year, the Super Eagles must change tactics and raise their level of play by putting their best in every other subsequent match they will play in order to retain Nigeria’s name as the giant of Africa.
We thank the Almighty Allah that notwithstanding that despicable loss, Nigeria has already secured a place for the next year’s tournament however without a doubt the misfortune had painted and uncovered the impressive issues inside the team which should be tended to before the following competition.
Our players should realize that misjudging teams or nations in view of their size, populace or some other explanation won’t help but yet bring about a circumstance like this.
The Super Eagles should know that their allies inside and outside are not content with the result of that match. It has killed their happiness, truth be told.
They ought to know that when the fortunes of the team are plunging down, it adversely affects the psychological, social and mental prosperity of Nigerians and their allies somewhere else.
I recalled in recent times there has been very little or nothing to cheer from the performances of the Super Eagles in either Africa or world’s engagements
The team failed at the last qualifying hurdle to the 2022 World Cup, in just a matter of weeks after breaking hearts of Nigerians by crashing out in the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations.
That was why I am sorry for my countrymen who regarded the Super Eagles as an extension of their lives; who are also their darling team and owned by them because these heartbroken results can ruin their lives.
Those supporters are ready and prepared to sink and swim with the team no matter the situation but the team always gets disappointed with bad results.
Therefore, fans are eager to know the reasons behind this slump and their potential remedies. As I don’t know or can’t understand, since the 2013 victories and achievements, the story has changed as it is one story of sadness or the other for the Super Eagles.
So many people are beginning to wonder what the reasons were, why the Eagles are no longer flying high. Was it the politics and challenges of the country that have crept into the Eagles and damaged their wings?
At the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, former Super Eagles captain Austin Eguavoen was drafted to manage the team, following the unceremonious sacking of Gernot Rohr.
Before the sacking, Nigerians had complained about the lack of energy in Rohr’s team. Despite some flurries here and there, there was a lack of fire in the Eagles play, as they failed to spark and galvanize their fan base.
This ultimately led to an acrimonious parting of ways between Rohr and his employers before the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.
Historically, the team’s recent poor performances include: Its recent draw against Lesotho and loss to in the just Rwanda match for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which have raised concerns.
I could remember that the Super Eagles were forced to come from behind against Lesotho, and despite creating chances, they couldn’t secure a win.
Against Rwanda, they suffered a shocking home defeat, with two goals conceded in three minutes
To me, the reasons behind Super Eagles poor performances may not be unconnected to several factors which I will serialize them.
The first of those factors are lack of cohesion and teamwork: The team’s inability to work together efficiently has led to many disappointing results.
Inadequate player positioning to me, is another point: As some players, like Kelechi Iheanacho, have expressed frustration about being played out of position, affecting their performance.
Goalkeeping errors are yet another factor: As goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has faced criticism for his recent performances, including a costly mistake against Rwanda.
Another issue is lack of fan support: As some players have voiced concerns about the negative treatment they receive from fans, affecting their morale.
The possible remedies to this ill-luck are: Our inability to address these issues, considered as the following:
Number one amongst them is our failure to improve the team’s coordination and strategy: here the coaching crew needs to work on building a cohesive unit.
Next is players’ position optimization: Here, unless otherwise, players must be played in their preferred positions to maximize their impact.
Goalkeeper reinforcement: here we need to consider bringing in alternative goalkeepers to promote competition.
Fan support and motivation is another point: The managers must encourage fans to rally behind the team, thereby promoting a positive atmosphere.
By addressing these areas, the Super Eagles can regain their momentum and deliver better performances.
More so, the Nigeria Super Eagles’ current results and standings are pointers. At their AFCON 2023, Nigeria made it to the final but lost 2-1 to Côte d’Ivoire. Before the final, they had a strong run, defeating Cameroon 2-0 and Angola 1-0 in the knockout rounds.
In their upcoming matches, including the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations matches, the Super Eagles must do everything possible to bounce back from their recent loss and put a smile on the faces of Nigerians.
Even though Nigeria’s Super Eagles have made some impressive moves in the FIFA world rankings because as of October 24, 2024, they jumped from 39th to 36th position globally, and from sixth to fourth in Africa.
This shift is a testimony to the team’s hard work and improvement under the present interim manager Augustine Eguavoen.
Here is the list of the top 10 African teams in the FIFA rankings:
1. Morocco: 13th globally
2. Senegal: 20th globally
3. Egypt: 30th globally
4. Nigeria: 36th globally
5. Algeria: 37th globally
6. Côte d’Ivoire: 40th globally
7. Tunisia: 47th globally
8. Cameroon: 49th globally
9. Mali: 54th globally
10. DR Congo: 57th globally
From the abovementioned, the Super Eagles’ had rise fundamentally, taking into account their past descending flight. It’s energizing to see them move above Ghana and South Africa in the rankings. We ought to continue to root for the team as they keep on doing right by Nigeria!
