Chikelue Iloenyosi, a former defender for the Super Eagles and Al-Ittihad, has expressed grave concerns regarding the character and passion displayed by Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team. In a recent interview with Brila.net, Iloenyosi asserted that even the esteemed Portuguese coach José Mourinho would be unable to salvage the current state of the team.
Iloenyosi’s comments come in light of the Super Eagles’ lackluster performance during the recent qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Although Nigeria has already secured their spot in the AFCON tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco, the team was expected to finish the qualifiers on a strong note. Instead, they managed only a single point from two matches, a disappointing outcome that has left fans and analysts alike questioning the team’s commitment and resolve.
The Super Eagles faced off against the Benin Republic in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan. Following this, they suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat at home to Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, a loss that not only marred their perfect home record in the qualifiers but also sparked outrage among supporters.
Leading up to the match against Rwanda, the Super Eagles had recorded consecutive home victories against Benin and Libya without conceding any goals, but their unexpected defeat left fans fuming and searching for answers. Iloenyosi, however, has shifted the blame away from head coach Austin Eguavoen, emphasizing that the players themselves are primarily responsible for the team’s shortcomings.
“I have to say that Eguavoen has never been part of the problem. Even if you bring in someone like Mourinho to coach Nigeria, the team still lacks character,” Iloenyosi remarked. He lamented the players’ poor positioning and lack of passion during the match against Rwanda, suggesting that the issues run deeper than just tactical execution. “Losing the game is not Eguavoen’s fault. Even if you bring in another coach, they will still lose that game,” he added, underscoring his belief that the problem lies within the team’s mentality rather than the coaching staff.
The recent victory for Rwanda marked a historic moment for the East African nation, as it was their first-ever win against Nigeria. This result has emboldened them as they prepare for future encounters, including a rematch set for the upcoming March International break, where they will vie for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Currently, Rwanda leads their qualification group with seven points, while Nigeria finds itself struggling with just three points from four games.
As the Super Eagles look ahead to the resumption of World Cup qualifiers, there are growing calls from certain football enthusiasts for the Nigeria Football Federation to consider appointing a foreign coach to help revitalize the team’s fortunes. However, Iloenyosi’s insights serve as a stark reminder that beyond tactical changes, the players must demonstrate a renewed sense of character, commitment, and pride in representing their country on the international stage
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