Superstition is a commonly held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as contributing to good or bad luck, or a practice based on such a belief.
It is said to be any irrational or supernatural belief or behavior that non-practitioners attribute to magic or fate, to imagined supernatural influence, or to dread of the unknown.
Superstition is often used to describe beliefs and behaviors associated to fortune telling, astrology, amulets, and luck, especially the idea that some unrelated past events might predict future events or other things.
Following the Super Eagles’ last World Cup match against Zimbabwe, a number of people have relocated the Eagles’ bad luck to the Godwin Akpabio Stadium, citing a variety of reasons to support their claims.
They are blaming the venue for the Super Eagles’ poor play in most of their games, which is, in my opinion, totally false.
It might be anything else because we will not know the answer or the reasons why the Eagles fail, not the Uyo stadium. This is because, as an object or item, it either does not play, does not aid in winning, or does the exact opposite.
They claimed that following a string of disappointing results, Uyo, the current home match of the Super Eagles, seems to have become a psychological burden for the team. They sent numerous bad records to back up their allegations.
On November 19, 2014, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana held Nigeria’s Super Eagles to a 2-2 draw in the 2015 AFCON qualifier in Uyo. On March 25, 2015, Nigeria’s Super Eagles lost 0-1 to the Ugandan national team in a friendly match.
The South African Bafana Bafana defeated the Nigerian Super Eagles 0–2 on June 10, 2017, during the 2019 AFCON qualifying tournament.
On November 16, 2023, the Nigerian Super Eagles and the Lesotho national team tied 1-1 in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match while on June 7, 2024, Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 in a World Cup qualifying match.
In addition, the Rwandan national side defeated Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in an AFCON qualifier on November 18, 2024. Additionally, Zimbabwe’s national team and Nigeria’s Super Eagle locked 1-1 again last week in a World Cup qualifying match.
So the Nigeria Super Eagles’ performance at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, has been uneventful despite all of these setbacks, nonetheless, as some of its noteworthy outcomes since the stadium’s opening include:
Nigeria defeated Algeria 3-0 in the 2018 World Cup qualifying match. In a subsequent match, Nigeria thrashed its Cameroon counterpart 4-0.
Additionally, Nigeria dominated Tanzania 1-0 in the 2017 AFCON qualifier, and it also triumphed 2-1 over Benin Republic in the 2020 AFCON qualifier, both of which took place at Uyo.
It is also crucial to remember that, despite hosting more Super Eagles games than any other stadium in recent years, a number of unfavorable outcomes have led to calls to relocate the team’s home games to another stadium across the nation.
That all of our national teams played their international games, whether friendly or competitive, at the Godwin Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, however, is no accident.
It occurred because of the pervasive corruption that upholds our sports culture and seriously impedes the advancement of the country.
In an interview with AIT, I remembered that Shaaibu Ahmed Gara publicly claimed “someone gathered $1 million for the refurbishment of the National Stadium in Abuja and accomplished nothing.” Actually, all he was able to do was degrade the stadium to the point where no games could be played there.
That is why I keep stating that sports cannot progress at all under the helmsmanship of such people because they are there more for their own self-interested goals than for the betterment of football.
It is therefore unwise to give the Uyo stadium a poor reputation based solely on the number of disappointments our Super Eagles are experiencing. It seems superstitious to me.
However, other national football teams throughout the world have been known to blame their home grounds for poor performance in World Cup or regional qualifiers, proving that this type of superstition is not exclusive to Nigeria.
To illustrate my points, I will provide a few significant examples: Supporters and the media have implied that the Estadio Monumental stadium is unlucky due to the Argentina national team’s dismal performance there.
There were calls to move additional games to the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, where Argentina had excelled in past friendlies, before the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Wembley and the England national team have a long-standing love-hate relationship in England.
Some even referred to the old stadium as “cursed” at times, blaming it for the lack of success that occurred between 1966 and 1996. There have also been heartbreaking defeats at the new Wembley, such as a loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
In important qualifiers, the Cameroonian team has occasionally struggled at home. The Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium has drawn criticism from certain fans for not having the same threatening atmosphere as Japoma Stadium in Douala, which was preferred during the 2022 World Cup qualifying matches.
The FNB Stadium in Johannesburg has also come under fire from South Africa. due to Bafana Bafana’s poor home performance in important qualifications. Some supporters and commentators have argued that South Africa should play in smaller, more intimidating venues instead of the enormous FNB Stadium after missing out on several World Cup qualifying opportunities.
In Malawi, at the Bingu National Stadium: Malawi’s national team, the Flames, has had trouble playing on their home stadium in recent years. After losing to Tunisia in an AFCON qualification in 2025, they are currently struggling to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Over the years, India has played in a number of home venues, but none have appeared to have consistently produced favorable results. Among other venues, they have performed in the Mumbai Football Arena, the Fatorda Stadium in Margao, and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.
Similarly, the Super Eagles have had a mixed record at their official home stadium in Abuja, Nigeria, while the Moshood Abiola National Stadium has also been criticized, albeit not necessarily loathed. Nigeria’s national team was criticized after losing on away goals and drawing 1-1 with Ghana in Abuja, which prevented them from qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The stadium was criticized by several spectators and commentators for having a bad atmosphere and subpar field conditions. Angry fans invaded the pitch as a result of these letdowns.
Nigeria may have a preference for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo because it has hosted more significant games there.
These instances demonstrated how teams may have subpar play or bad luck at particular stadiums even though they may not publicly voice a hatred for their home field.
With all these, I think it is reasonable to point the finger at the system rather than the stadium when a national football team performs poorly in World Cup and continental qualifying.
The term “system” refers to the larger football framework, rules, and administration that affect a our team’s performance.
Some of the primary system elements that could be to blame for poor performance are listed below.
Systemic Issues: In football federations, inadequate management, a lack of accountability, and bad football administration and governance can lead to inefficient player selection, training schedules, and squad preparation. Some Asian and African clubs have suffered due to administrative conflicts, unpaid player wages, and poor planning.
Weak Youth Development Structure. A robust pipeline of young players is essential to the success of a national team. The senior team will suffer if a nation does not have competitive youth leagues, academies, or grassroots football programs. While some countries, like Brazil, France, and Germany, make significant investments in youth development, others struggle because they overlook this factor.
Weaknesses in tactics and poor coaching. A team’s performance may suffer if they hire coaches who are unqualified or poorly prepared. Results are greatly influenced by in-game management, player choice, and tactics. For instance, some national teams employ temporary foreign coaches, which results in erratic tactics and a lackluster team dynamic.
Absence of domestic leagues that are competitive. Top-tier players are produced in part by a robust domestic league. Players in a weak league lack the necessary experience and competition. For instance, European countries with robust leagues have regularly won World Cups, but some Asian and African teams depend too heavily on players from other countries.
Favouritism and team selection are inconsistent. Performance will suffer if team selection is determined more by politics, favoritism, or outside influence than by merit. For instance, it has been alleged that certain national teams choose players more for financial or political reasons than for skill.
Problems with Mental and Psychological Preparation Winning important games greatly depends on team cohesion, confidence, and motivation. Players may perform poorly if they lack belief as a result of pressure, internal conflicts, or previous failures. For instance, certain teams perform poorly under duress, particularly during pivotal qualifier or knockout games.
Poor Infrastructure & Training Facilities: Inadequate training facilities, inadequate medical support, and logistical problems can all impair player preparation and performance, even in nations with top-notch stadiums. For instance, some Asian and African teams are at a disadvantage because they practice on poor quality fields prior to important qualifiers.
Ineffective hiring and scouting: If elite talent is not identified and hired, the club may suffer.
Insufficient medical assistance: Inadequate medical attention and injury prevention can lead to player injuries and absences.
Lack of chemistry and cohesiveness within the team: Ineffective leadership, communication, and team dynamics can all have an impact on output.
Poor planning and preparation: Poor planning can affect team performance. This includes bad scheduling, travel plans, and lodging.
Corruption and poor management: In football associations, corruption, embezzlement, or poor management can result in a lack of funding, bad choices, and eventually subpar team performance.
Lack of government support: The growth of football may be impeded by a lack of government interest, funding, or support.
Insufficient fan involvement and support: Low fan turnout, a lack of zeal, or unfavorable support can have an impact on team morale and output.
Problems (not the stadium itself) relating to the stadium
Poor pitch maintenance can have an impact on player safety and performance.
Inadequate stadium amenities: Teams may find it more difficult to prepare if there are inadequate facilities, such as training areas, locker rooms, or medical facilities, or if the stadium is not maintained properly.
Absence of safety and security measures: Players and spectators may find themselves in an uncomfortable or even dangerous situation due to inadequate crowd control, security, or safety measures.
Therefore, by resolving these systemic issues, national football teams can perform better regardless of the stadium in which they play.