The Nigerian national team made global headlines by failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The disappointment in the African country was so great that after the decisive match, numerous supporters of the “Super Eagles” stormed the pitch and gave free rein to their anger. That was a few months ago. The Nigerians are slowly turning their gaze towards the 2026 World Cup, but a lot needs to happen around the national team in order to increase its chances of participating.
The “Super Eagles” have been regular guests at World Cups in the recent past and have often impressed with attractive football. World Cups are also particularly popular for sports betting. Bookmakers offer special world cup bets and lucrative odds. There is still a great deal of disappointment in the African country with 200 million inhabitants. But this is slowly giving way to new hope. The joy of football is too great.
Background on the Nigerian National Team
The national team of Nigeria is managed by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). The team has already won the Africa Cup three times – most recently in 2013. The “Super Eagles” celebrated their greatest success in April 1994. There, the Nigerian national team finished fifth in the FIFA world rankings. Nigeria thus holds the record for the highest position in the FIFA World Ranking ever achieved by an African football team.
However, the national team of Nigeria has also been able to celebrate notable successes in the recent past. The Super Eagles have qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups. Only the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the current World Cup 2022 in Qatar were not qualified for.
Accordingly, Nigeria is considered one of the leading nations in African football. The disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup was all the greater, and the team will now have to wait four long years to take part in the world’s biggest football tournament again.
The consequences of missing the 2022 World Cup: a sporting and financial disaster
In addition to the sporting defeat, the financial damage of missing the 2022 World Cup is also a great disappointment. The association will lose several million US dollars as a result of not qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar. Not only will supplier deals and bonuses be lost, but the national economy will also suffer.
In the past, major sporting events such as a World Cup have always successfully boosted the economy of the African country. In the past, Nigeria was almost flooded with advertising campaigns. By not participating in the World Cup, the country naturally loses the global attention it had hoped for. As a result, sponsors, investors and financiers are also lost.
Missing a World Cup also affects smaller companies. For example, national and international jersey sales will suffer from the non-qualification. While the jersey of the Nigerian national team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia was still one of the most popular jerseys of the tournament, there will not even be a Nigerian World Cup jersey at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Accordingly, it is clear that the “Super Eagles” will provide a huge boost to the national economy by participating in a World Cup. Missing out will cause huge financial damage to the country on the Gulf of Guinea. No wonder some of the players describe the failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as the biggest low point in their own careers.
Reasons for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
The surprising dismissal of former national coach Gernot Rohr in December 2021 is regarded as a major turning point for the worse. At the time of publication, experts and fans could not believe their eyes. So sudden and unexpected was the news that the Nigerian Football Federation had parted ways with Rohr.
The separation was particularly unexpected because the 68-year-old football coach had achieved all of his goals at the time. In addition to qualifying for the Africa Cup, the team had also qualified for the finals of the World Cup. Nevertheless, he was sacked. The reason for this was the way of playing football, which was successful in terms of results, but no longer suited the demands of the association. The Nigerian national team was said to have shown too little dominance, especially against weaker opponents. Behind the scenes, however, the bad relationship between the former national coach Gernot Rohr and the federation’s president Amaju Pinnick is said to be the most likely reason for the premature separation.
Since then, the Nigerian national team has lost the plot in the World Cup qualifiers. Among other things, the team lost at home to the Central African Republic and had to settle for a draw against Cape Verde. In the end, as is well known, it was not enough for participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A look into the future: World Cup 2026 as a big goal!
After the great disappointment, the football nation of Nigeria is now looking towards the 2026 World Cup with hope. The country longs for sporting success. With over 500 different tribes, Nigeria unites the most diverse traditions, people and cultures. Football is seen by many as the only activity that can break through all the country’s fault lines. No matter what culture or language, at matches of the “Super Eagles” the country unites behind their national team. Accordingly, a strong Nigerian national team is important for the African country.
For success in the future, however, some things have tochange. Especially in the association, certain personnel should be reconsidered and, if necessary, replaced. Too often, ego and pride dominate over professional competence. It is a matter of hiring the best possible coach, renovating the national stadiums and, above all, paying coaches and players on time. This is the only way to revive serious professional football in Nigeria.
There is enough talent in the team itself. A large part of the squad is young and plays in the highest European leagues. Whether it is Victor Osimhen, defensive strategist Wilfried Ndidi or defender Calvin Bassey – the Nigerian national team is stocked with top international players. For long-term success, however, a strategy is necessary. This requires a united federation, qualified coaches and motivated nationalplayers who enjoy playing for their country. Accordingly, it is time to usher in a new generation in Nigerian football.
Several leaders from the golden era have tried their luck for years without success. The result has been a host of scandals and mismanagement of funds and sporting talent. If the right lessons are learned from the disappointing past, qualification for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North and Central America is quite possible.