By Wale Mustapha
Former Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s faltering campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, saying the team should not be struggling given the quality of players at its disposal.
Nigeria, three-time African champions, have endured a turbulent qualifying run, managing just three wins from nine matches. The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C with 14 points, heading into a must-win final fixture against the Benin Republic.
To secure qualification, Nigeria must not only defeat the Cheetahs but also rely on group rivals South Africa dropping points in their final match.
Taiwo, who featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, said it was unacceptable for a team with such depth of talent to be on the verge of missing out on the global tournament.
“It’s a shame. Among all the good players we have playing for good clubs, it’s a shame that we can’t make it to the World Cup,” the former Olympique Marseille defender said.
“We have a lot of good players; we have the quality to qualify. It’s just a minor thing that becomes a big thing for us.”
Nigeria’s qualification hopes now hang in the balance, with fans and stakeholders anxiously awaiting the outcome of the final group fixtures.
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.
