Former Super Eagles coach, Johannes Bonfrère, has voiced his deep frustration over Nigeria’s inability to secure a victory in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Uyo. Bonfrère, who was a key figure in Nigeria’s golden era—helping the team win Olympic gold in 1996, AFCON in 1994, and qualify for their first-ever World Cup—is now dismayed by the current state of Nigerian football.
Despite the Super Eagles reaching the AFCON final last year, they now face the risk of missing consecutive World Cups, a scenario that has left Bonfrère unimpressed. In an interview with Complete Sports, the Dutchman criticized the team’s poor performance, stating that Nigeria once dominated teams like Zimbabwe with ease.
During Tuesday’s clash, Victor Osimhen put Nigeria ahead in the second half, raising hopes of a much-needed win. However, a late equalizer from Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa left the Super Eagles frustrated and dealt a major blow to their automatic qualification hopes. Speaking from his home in the Netherlands, Bonfrère questioned the team’s inability to secure wins against lower-ranked opponents.
Read also: Nigeria’s World Cup hopes in jeopardy as Super Eagles draw 1-1 with Zimbabwe
“How do you expect to qualify for the World Cup if you don’t win games?” he asked. “In the past, if we didn’t beat Zimbabwe 3-0 or 4-0, fans would throw stones at us. With so many Super Eagles players in top European leagues, a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe is unacceptable.”
Bonfrère expressed doubts about Nigeria’s qualification chances, suggesting that their only hope might be through the play-offs. He also criticized the team’s tactical approach, lack of discipline, and poor finishing.
“I didn’t watch the game, but did the coach not have enough information on Zimbabwe? Did he use the wrong tactics? Or did the players fail to execute the game plan?” he questioned. “If they had converted two or three chances, Zimbabwe’s late goal wouldn’t have mattered. It’s sad, painful, and unfortunate. Small teams now look the Super Eagles in the eye and ask, ‘What can you do?’ No one fears them anymore, and that is a big problem.”
The draw leaves Nigeria fourth in Group C with seven points, trailing South Africa (13 points), Rwanda (8), and Benin (8). With only four matches remaining, South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Benin has further widened the gap at the top, putting the Super Eagles under immense pressure.
As automatic qualification looks increasingly unlikely, Nigeria now faces an uphill battle to keep their 2026 World Cup dreams alive.
