2026 WORLD CUP: NFF FOSTERING INDISCIPLINE IN EAGLES CAMP – ENYEAMA, AGALI, ONAZI
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As attention shifts to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the fear of indiscipline in the Super Eagles has cropped up as the main crux that may crush Nigeria’s desire of picking a World Cup ticket from a Group hitherto considered favourable with South Africa, Republic of Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho.
Speaking on the issue, former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, did not think twice when he said that the level of indiscipline in the camp of the Eagles was being perpetrated by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Meanwhile, as the next round of qualification matches for the 2026 Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, World Cup begins in March 2025, Nigerians are in a quandary over the ability of the Super Eagles to pick the sole ticket of Group C as they lie precariously on the fifth spot, surprisingly behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic and Lesotho in that order.
To emerge top of the group, the Super Eagles, who are presently without a substantive coach, would need to win the remaining six matches left in the series to amass 18 points in addition to the three they already have to finish with 23 points.
Enyeama
Enyeama said: “The football house (NFF) should be the gatekeeper of rules and regulations.
“They should know when the players are supposed to be in camp. They should have their schedule like when they played for their clubs. They should hit camp a day after playing for their clubs.
“Unfortunately, here you find players reporting to camp two or three day after featuring for their clubs without any action or sanction on them.”
Another former player of the Eagles, Victor Agali also blamed the NFF for most of the chaos being noticed in the national team.
Agali said: “I don’t know if they really care about the image of Nigerian football. It saddens my heart to know that our management is really the problem of the national team.
“And I ask, what is the support they have given to the coaches?”
Onazi
Another former Super Eagles, Ogenyi Onazi, agreed that the commitment level of the current Super Eagles has become suspect.
He advocated stiffer rules and regulations (Code of Conduct) for the team.
“It was a thing of joy being invited to the camp of the Super Eagles and the invited players treasured it.
“Now, all manner of players are invited to the team and it has lowered standard.
“Invitation to the national team is not all about who’s doing well in his club. Discipline, respect and comportment were also considered.
“Now, all manner of players get invitations to the team and they’ve sacrificed the unity, the brotherhood that existed in the team.
“That is why I insist that there should be regulations in the team if we need to pick the pieces and qualify for the World Cup,” Onazi said.
NFF has sacred cows
Though most of the ex-players we talked to refrained from hitting the nail on the head, it was so obvious that they appointed accusing fingers on the soccer-ruling body, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
There have been allegations levelled against the body that some big guns have special players they invite to the camp without
the knowledge of the coach.
And such players see themselves as sacred cows which are above the law.
Many others said that if the Super Eagles fail to qualify for the World Cup, the reason would be due to the ineptitude of those charged with the responsibility of managing our football.
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