Nigeria Players Abroad
Nigeria football ‘going down’ after latest international setbacks, says Bonfrere
Former Super Eagles coach Johannes Bonfrere says it is “sad” and “shameful” that Nigeria will miss the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and could also fail to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Dutch-born coach was speaking after Burkina Faso defeated Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 4-1 in the final of the WAFU B U-20 Championship in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, on Sunday night.
That defeat ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2027 CAF U-20 AFCON and, as a result, the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The outcome came as another setback for Nigerian football, with Bonfrere also pointing to the Super Falcons’ uncertain position in the qualification race for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“It’s sad, shameful that Nigeria is going down in football despite the huge talents it has,” Bonfrere said when he exclusively spoke to Completesports.com after the match.
“Burkina Faso defeating Nigeria 4-1, that’s too painful. Super Eagles not in 2026 World Cup. Flying Eagles not going to CAF U-20 AFCON, and possibly 2027 FIFA World Cup.
“Super Falcons not going to Women’s World Cup in Brazil. That’s too bad. The Federation (NFF) not responding to my desire through the media to have me so I can teach the coaches in the various national teams.
“I feel bad that all these [failures] are happening to Nigeria losing to Burkina Faso, first 0-2 and now 1-4. Super Falcons, who are Africa’s most respected women’s team, now looking like beginners,” Bonfrere lamented.
Burkina Faso had already beaten the Flying Eagles 2-0 in their opening Group B match of the WAFU B Championship in Cote d’Ivoire. They completed a second victory over Nigeria in the final to win the tournament and secure the qualifying place for the 2027 CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations.
The result means Nigeria will not take part in the continental U-20 competition and will consequently miss the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Bonfrere led Nigeria’s U-23 side to the men’s football gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He also guided the Super Eagles to a silver-medal finish at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, staged in Lagos.
The coach said he had wanted to help Nigeria’s national-team coaches, but claimed the Nigeria Football Federation had not responded to his public calls for an opportunity to work with them.
Nigeria’s women’s team are facing their own major challenge after the Super Falcons were knocked out by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in the quarter-finals of WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.
Cameroon won 1-0 against a lacklustre Nigeria side, ending the Super Falcons’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Nigeria will now play South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Casablanca on Thursday, 13 August. The match will determine which side reaches the intercontinental play-offs and keeps alive its hopes of securing a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Falcons remain Africa’s most successful women’s team, but Sunday’s victory was Cameroon’s sixth against Nigeria in 26 meetings. Nigeria have won 12 of those matches, while the other eight encounters ended in draws.