Emeka Ezeugo blasts Super Eagles players on ‘historic embarrassment’ in Rwanda loss

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Nigerian international Emeka Ezeugo has strongly criticized certain players following the Super Eagles’ historic 2-1 loss to Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match in Uyo on Monday.

Ezeugo, who was part of Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup squad in 1994, voiced his frustration over the selection of some players and questioned their commitment to the national team.

The loss to Rwanda, which many have described as a “historic embarrassment,” has sparked outrage among fans and former players alike.

Ezeugo did not hold back in his assessment of certain players’ performances, singling out those he believes should no longer be considered for selection.

“It’s clear that Victor Boniface doesn’t commit himself when he plays for the Super Eagles,” Ezeugo said in an interview with OwnGoal.

“When you watch him play for Bayer Leverkusen, he’s always chasing everything down, but when he plays for Nigeria, he strolls on the pitch. You can’t keep calling a player like that if you want the team to progress.”

Ezeugo’s criticism didn’t stop at Boniface. He went on to question the inclusion of other players in the squad, particularly those whose performances he feels have not met expectations.

“Outside of Boniface, I’m also wondering why Benjamin Tanimu, who plays in the English third division, gets called up to the national team. Then you have Francis Uzoho, I hope we don’t have to see him ever again. And don’t get me started on Kelechi Iheanacho, who, for the past two years, has added nothing to the team,” Ezeugo continued.

The comments come amid growing frustration over the Super Eagles’ recent form and the continued inclusion of players who, according to Ezeugo, have not delivered consistently for the national team.

The loss to Rwanda has prompted a deeper reflection on the current state of the Super Eagles, with many calling for a new direction and better player selections going forward.

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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