Former Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe says the nation’s World Cup disappointment originates from what he describes as incompetence within the Nigerian Football Federation, SportPremi reports.
The Super Eagles failed to reach the FIFA World Cup for a second consecutive edition after losing on penalty to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF playoff final last Sunday in Morocco.
They also missed out on the 2022 edition in Qatar, after suffering elimination at the hands of bitter rivals Ghana in the final playoff rounds.
Nigeria finished second in group C behind South Africa who qualified automatically, but were given a lifeline after advancing to the CAF playoff rounds as one of the best-placed runners-up.
A dominant 4-1 win over Gabon in the first round had raised hopes among supporters, before Sunday’s penalty shootout heartbreak dashed any hopes of playing in next year’s tournament.
Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all missed from 12 yards and despite Stanley Nwabali’s heroics in saving twice, it was DR Congo who advanced to the intercontinental playoffs.
Anichebe blames NFF for World Cup failure
Victor Anichebe, who was part of the silver-winning squad at the 2008 Olympic games, believes the country’s football federation should take responsibility for failure to reach the World Cup.
In the buildup to the playoffs, the players were involved in a training boycott just few days to their opening clash against Gabon, over unpaid allowances and wages dating back to 2019.
In a statement released on social media, the 37-year-old also highlighted possible steps to take to avoid a repeat of such in the future.
“Despite the shame and frustration of failing to qualify, this might actually be the tuning point we need for long-term progress,” Victor Anichebe revealed.
“Too many people still don’t grasp the real issue. It isn’t just about corruption or misuse of funds solely, although those matter.
“At its core, it’s about deep, chronic incompetence. We keep placing people in key positions who have no strategic plan, no experience in high-performance environments and no understanding of what sustainable success truly requires.”
On what should be done
“Real change demands selflessness, long-term thinking, and building foundations that won’t produce instant rewards. It means trusting a process rather than chasing quick fixes”, the former Everton forward added.
“We also need to be honest: simply being an ex-player is not a qualification. If someone hasn’t expanded their knowledge, built their CV, studied, or gained the experience required, this role is not a birthright just because of past career achievements.
“If we want serious outcomes, we must start having serious conversations that lead to serious decisions”, Anichebe concluded.
