2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Onome Ebi pleads for Super Eagles support

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria defender, Onome Ebi has appealed for support for the senior men’s national team in their quest to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup in 2026.

The Super Eagles have been under intense backlash after failing to record a win in their first two games of the qualifiers.

A 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo was followed by a similar result and scoreline against Zimbabwe away from home.

“They are gradually killing the beautiful game in my country with so much negativity,” Ebi wrote on Instagram.

“Football is supposed to be enjoyed, and players giving all to make the country proud are supposed to be encouraged and supported.

“It’s really sad to know that we have the best players in the world, but it is difficult to win games convincingly these days. It is really sad.”

Ebi said that fans should should desist from insulting players which will discourage them from giving their best for the country.

“We need that full support and enough of all this calling out players, insulting, and discouraging them after a bad game.” She continued. “Players go through a lot after all this, please lovers of football we can do better to help each other.

“Truly, some people don’t understand how it feels to lose a game or play below expectations. Some players never recover from it.

“Some experienced players are strong enough to encourage the rest. Some go off playing for some time to recover. Football is not just about playing on the field.

“It’s beyond. You wonder why players always ask the fans for their support and why it is because it goes a long way to motivate and encourage the players.

“Please let’s change our ways toward football players. It’s destroying the beauty of the game.”

Jose Peseiro’s side is in a bad patch of form ahead of the next African Cup of Nations (AFCON) where they will face host, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau in Group A.