- Ogu maintained that the players should share equal blame
- focusing solely on the NFF overlooks the role of the players on the pitch, where results are ultimately decided
Former Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu has weighed in on Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, placing much of the responsibility on the players rather than the football authorities.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Ogu, who earned 25 caps for Nigeria and was part of the squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as the team that finished third at 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, shared his views during an appearance on a sports podcast.
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While many critics have blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for administrative shortcomings and instability, Ogu argued that the players must also take responsibility for the disappointing outcome.
Nigeria’s qualification campaign saw a series of coaching changes. Jose Peseiro was unable to secure crucial results before leaving his role, while Finidi George had a brief and unsuccessful stint.
Eric Chelle later took charge in an attempt to revive hopes, but Nigeria ultimately fell short after a playoff defeat on penalties to DR Congo.
The failure to qualify drew widespread criticism, prompting the NFF to issue an apology to Bola Tinubu.
Despite acknowledging structural issues within the federation, Ogu maintained that the players should share equal blame.
He noted that during his time with the national team, the federation made efforts to provide good welfare, including accommodation and bonuses, even if improvements were still needed.
According to him, focusing solely on the NFF overlooks the role of the players on the pitch, where results are ultimately decided.
With World Cup qualification no longer an option, the Super Eagles will now shift attention to upcoming fixtures, including the Unity Cup 2026, followed by international friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June.
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