The recent performances of the Super Eagles of Nigeria leave a sour taste in the mouth and make many Nigerians who have been staunch supporters and cheerleaders of the national team and ardent watchers of their matches over the years sick at heart. The current team is a troubling parody of the ones that dazzled, entertained, united Nigerians, and brought joy to their homes in years gone by.
The once football powerhouse of the African continent has now become a bedraggled eagle, which every toothless chick now scoffs at and even uses as a plaything. The Super Eagles, like a man walking with a stilt, have been shaky and unconvincing for a few years now, but even at their worst, they still take small, insignificant, and lowly-ranked teams to the cleaners. The disturbing decline in the performances and status of the national team is hastened by the controversial appointment of Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
Peseiro’s appointment in May 2023 was met with strong reservations and outright opposition from many due to his unimpressive CV, marked by a litany of awful stints even at smaller clubs and countries. It did not take long for those who expressed misgivings about his ability to be vindicated as the Super Eagles embarked on an embarrassing streak of unconvincing displays under his leadership, losing six out of their first nine matches.
However, matters came to a head this past week after Nigeria’s matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the ongoing World Cup qualifier ended in painful stalemates. Thus, what initially seemed like an easy group because of the level of the teams that populated it—with many saying the qualification of Nigeria for the World Cup playoffs is a foregone conclusion—is now looking like a dreadful den of hyenas for an unfortunate lion.
For the uninitiated, Zimbabwe and Lesotho are ranked 125 and 153 in the FIFA ranking, respectively.
It’s not even so much about the results as it’s about the drab and uninspiring style of play. The complete absence of the basics of football becomes more magnified with each game. No balance. No cohesion. No energy. No guts. There is no redeeming feature.
“2 points from games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe is a sackable offense,” a netizen blurted after the matches. He’s just one of many frustrated and weary football aficionados who think Peseiro should be relieved of his duty. These strident calls will only grow louder in the coming months as the realization that he’s not the man for the job dawns on many.
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