2026 World Cup: Enyeama, Agali, Onazi criticize NFF for indiscipline in Eagles camp

As the spotlight turns to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, concerns over indiscipline within the Super Eagles’ camp have emerged as a significant hurdle to Nigeria’s aspirations of securing a ticket from what initially seemed like a favorable group.

Nigeria is set to compete against South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has openly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), accusing them of fostering indiscipline within the team.

This sentiment raises questions about the team’s preparedness for the upcoming matches.

The situation grows more dire as the Super Eagles sit in a precarious fifth position in Group C, trailing behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic, and Lesotho.

With the next round of qualifiers set to begin in March 2025, the team’s path to the World Cup appears challenging.

To secure the top spot in the group and qualify, the Super Eagles, currently without a substantive coach, must win all six remaining matches.

This would bring their total points to 23, including the three they already have. Failure to achieve this could see Nigeria miss out on the tournament, further deepening concerns among fans and analysts alike.

Read the very detailed piece on Super Eagles’ precarious situation HERE.

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.

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.