What needs to be done to make the Eagles ruthless again?
By Ed Emeanua
There is no denying that Nigeria has a medley of football-attacking talents. And make no mistake about it!
According to Carlo Garganese of Football Transfer: “From Osimhen, Lookman, and Boniface to Okoye, Nigeria is STACKED.”
Super Eagles rolled out all their awesome offensive ordinances at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday and blew Benin out of the sky 3-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations Qualification fray.
Yet, the same side lost their mojo against the familiar foe on Saturday in their penultimate competitive match in June at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Cote-d’Ivoire by two goals to one in a 2026 FIFA CAF World Cup Qualifiers -Group Stage -Group C.
Ademola Lookman found the net twice and Victor Osimhen once to split the goals by a 2-1 ratio, allowing Nigeria to soar atop Group D on three points. Their fellow group opponents-Rwanda and Libya-settled for a point each following their 1-1 draw at the 11 June Stadium in Tripoli, Libya.
In that encounter, Sobhi Al Dawi opened the home sides’ AFCON 2025 qualifiers goals account with a 16′ strike off a Nour Al Din Al Qulaib assist. Rwanda leveled through Innocent Nshuti in the
The Cheetahs completed the quartet with zero points. Former Nigeria national coach Gernot Rohr who led the Cheetahs to their famous competitive victory over the Super Eagles in June experienced a pushback from his ex-players.
However, it is proper to ask that as talent-laden as the Super Eagles are today, why are they not just spreading their wings and soaring to higher heights in contemporaneous football engagements?
“It has been a turbulent time for Nigeria in recent times, with the Super Eagles having a tough start to their World Cup qualifying campaign and Finidi George leaving his post as manager just weeks after succeeding Jose Peseiro,” Garganese wrote.
“But there is one thing that isn’t in doubt and that is Nigeria are blessed with an incredible array of talent, particularly in attack.
“With Galasaray new boy Osimhen, Atalanta Ballon d’Or candidate Lookman, Leverkusen ace Victor Boniface, Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi – not to mention the likes of Nathan Tella and Terem Moffi who can’t even get in the squad – there are some who believe Nigeria have the best group of attackers in international football.
“Udinese and Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who has been one of Serie A’s best goalkeepers over the last year and has an exciting future ahead of him himself, agrees that his nation is blessed with fantastic quality.
‘”Honestly, in general, not just our attackers, our squad is unbelievably strong but yeah as you mention our strikers, I have tough working days facing them,” Okoye told The Italian Football Podcast.
‘”To train with top strikers like them helps me learn.
‘”We have been through a difficult situation [in recent months]. But when we all meet up in the national team camp it’s a great vibe, family vibes. I’m sure that we will get to our goal [of qualifying for the World Cup].
‘”We have a new coach, so we are looking forward to what’s coming. It would mean the world [to play for Nigeria at the World Cup]. I grew up watching the Super Eagles.
‘”When my father came home from Nigeria, he always brought Okocha jerseys. To represent my fatherland is a dream. At a big tournament like the World Cup would be more special.”
“Okoye has started the new season brilliantly for Udinese, helping the side to joint-top of Serie A.
“The 25-year-old’s performances have led to interest from big clubs and he was on Inter Milan’s shortlist this summer before they instead opted to sign Josep Martinez instead from Genoa.
“But there is no doubt that the giant 6ft 6in goalkeeper, who is impressively commanding of his penalty area, has a big future ahead.
‘”My first year was a little bit turbulent because I arrived at Udine from Watford. I didn’t play a lot at Watford and was recovering from shoulder surgery. Luckily the Pozzo family gave me a chance here at Udinese,” he explained.
‘”I arrived as a second goalkeeper but in 17 games I made it to the starting eleven. And then the journey started. I’m very happy with how things are going here.”
‘”I am very happy with my first season. It was very important for us players and the club to stay up, Udinese has been in the Serie A for 30 years. I’m happy I could play a role in keeping the club in Serie A where the club belongs.
‘”For sure there are lots of areas I can improve. To reach the level I want to be, I have lots of things I can improve on. I’m surrounded by a very good goalkeeping team at Udinese.”
‘”One day playing in the Champions League would be a dream. This is what we dream of growing up, this is the number 1 target.
‘”But I know I have to take things step by step, I have to work on a lot of things. But I also know that I can be there, so that’s why we all work hard.
‘”About the Premier League and England, I don’t know yet. I like it in Italy. I am very happy in Italy. I am learning the language and I want to spend more time here in Italy.”
“Okoye also admitted in the interview that his idol was former Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida, while he named Alisson as the most complete goalkeeper in the world today.
“So from an incredible group of attackers to their goalkeeper, Nigeria is certainly in safe hands.”
Many share this sentiment. Tunde Eludini of Premium Times Nigeria is certainly one of them.
“This is a worrying time for Nigerian football fans. For the first time since 1960, the Super Eagles have gone winless in three consecutive World Cup qualifying matches,” Eludini lamented on the eve of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo in June.
“While qualification for the 2026 World Cup appears precarious, all hope is not lost.
“Great teams don’t just create chances; they ruthlessly convert them. A more clinical approach is paramount in the upcoming matches.
“For instance, in the South Africa match, attackers like Paul Onuachu and Ademola Lookman fluffed clear chances at different times. A more ruthless finisher, perhaps Victor Boniface, could have made a difference.
“Though Coach Finidi George has tried to explain why Boniface wasn’t featured against South Africa, whoever gets the nod should do well to deliver the goals. When they don’t, the coach must be quick enough to make changes and not wait till the situation is irredeemable.
“For me, it is what you can give to me on the field, everyone wants this or that player to play but at the end of the day if the player is not performing you guys will still be shouting ‘take him off’,” Finidi told the media after Friday’s draw.”
Finidi resigned days after Nigeria’s historic 1-2 loss to Rohr’s men in Abidjan and Eguavoen has been appointed to right the ship in his stead.
According to Leadership News, interim manager Eguavoen has declared that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are raring to go for all six points available in this month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against their counterparts from Benin Republic and Rwanda.
The reigning African vice champions after their clash with the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Uyo on Saturday, 7th September will keep a date with Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali three days later, Leadership News stated.
“Our objective is clear: to pick the six points in both matches. The players know this, and are committed to accomplishing this. The matches will not be easy; no qualifying game can be taken for granted because all the teams want to play in the finals. However, we have spoken to the players and all of us are on the same page,” Eguavoen said.
“Starting with the match against Benin Republic on Saturday, nobody is mentioning anything about revenge. Our goal is three points, and then we aim for another three points in Kigali on Tuesday that will put us in good stead for qualification.”
According to Leadership News, Eguavoen has a number of stalwarts who are truly determined to appease fans and enthusiasts for missing the two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in June, from which poor results threaten the Eagles’ chances of reaching the 2026 finals.
The tabloid stated: “AFCON’s Man-of-the-Competition William Ekong, also team captain, was overlooked for the ties against South Africa and Benin Republic as he was recovering from injury, but is back at the heart of the rearguard to lead the three-time African champions to hunt for points for another showpiece. Ekong scored three goals at the AFCON finals early in the year.
“Reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, Defender Ola Aina, and star forward Moses Simon missed the two games in June due to injury. Osimhen who just signed for Turkish giants Galatasaray, will be keen to impress his new employers, while banishing talks of his rustiness.
“Rapid-raider Simon, who on his good day can single-handedly decimate the opposition, is also eager to again appear in the green-white-green, just as compatriot Aina.
“Eguavoen is most likely to start goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, with Aina, Semi Ajayi, Ekong and Bassey at the rear, and any three of Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Alhassan Yusuf and Raphael Onyedika in midfield. Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman are gunning for shirts at the fore.
“Lookman, in the list of 30 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, will walk with a greater spring in his steps, and justifiably so. He scored three crucial goals for Nigeria at the AFCON, and his 17 goals and 11 assists steered Atalanta FC to the Europa Cup final, where his hat-trick did the damage on German club, Bayer Leverkusen.”
