“NFF is not to blame, the players are” — Ikpeba on Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying struggles

By Dayo Awoniyi

Former Nigeria international, Victor Nosa Ikpeba, has defended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), insisting that the country’s poor run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers is the fault of the players rather than the administrators.

Speaking on SuperSport, the 1997 African Footballer of the Year criticized calls for the resignation of the federation’s executive committee, stressing that the NFF has provided the national team with the necessary support to succeed.

“Our players should take the lion’s share of the blame for our shy performance so far in the World Cup qualifiers,” Ikpeba said.

“They were given everything necessary to deliver qualification without stress, but somehow they have not lived up to expectations. I won’t question their commitment, but with the quality of players we have, Nigeria should not be struggling in our group.”

He dismissed suggestions that the NFF leadership should be forced out, arguing that responsibility lies squarely with the squad. “Why are some people calling for the resignation of the NFF? Do they expect committee members to come and play the game on the pitch?” he asked.

On the role of head coach Finidi Eric, Ikpeba expressed confidence in his ability to steady the Super Eagles.

“Eric is doing a good job, and I believe we wouldn’t be in this situation if he had started the qualifiers with the Super Eagles,” he noted.

“He will create competition for places in the squad and utilize the talented players we have abroad. He hasn’t dismissed any player, but he is fostering an environment of healthy competition by giving different players opportunities to fight for a spot. He can lead Nigeria to the next AFCON irrespective of the outcome of our World Cup qualifying bid.”

Ikpeba, however, identified what he described as the most pressing issue within the team’s camp.

“The biggest problem of the Super Eagles is the distraction in camp before and after matches. I expect the NFF to tackle that problem,” he concluded.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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