Olofinjana says Nigeria must restore the pride of wearing the Super Eagles shirt

Former Nigeria midfielder Seyi Olofinjana says the Super Eagles must rebuild their identity and restore the prestige of representing the country after missing two consecutive FIFA World Cups.

Nigeria failed to reach the 2022 World Cup after Ghana progressed on the away-goals rule, before missing out on the 2026 tournament as well. The successive failures have increased pressure on Nigerian football, but Olofinjana believes the setbacks could provide an opportunity to address problems that have been allowed to persist.

The former midfielder argues that qualification for either tournament might have postponed the structural changes he believes are urgently required within the national team.

“I like a lot of what is happening in the backend of not going to two World Cups because I think if we had gone to the two, we will still be where we are,” Olofinjana said.

In his view, Nigeria has frequently depended on the country’s considerable talent and resources to overcome difficulties without putting the necessary long-term planning in place. That approach, he says, has prevented the national team from developing a sustainable football structure.

“Nigeria is such a wealthy country, a lot of the time, we solve all these problems without any preparation. It has given us an opportunity to reflect on our national team, what are we doing? What does the green-white-green mean?”

Olofinjana believes the review must include a renewed understanding of what it means to play for Nigeria. He says the national team shirt no longer commands the same respect and sense of responsibility that it did when he represented the Super Eagles.

“The Super Eagles shirt is no longer heavy, it used to be heavy when we wore it.”

The former midfielder also warned that Nigeria cannot depend solely on players motivating themselves or on individual ability. He said representing the country should involve a shared responsibility, with every player aware of the demands attached to playing for the national team.

“A lot of what they do when they wear the shirt is self-motivation and collective responsibility. If anybody is going to be in the World Cup, they have to know what they are doing.”

Nigeria’s consecutive World Cup absences have come despite the country’s history of producing highly regarded players and competing regularly on the international stage. Olofinjana’s comments reflect his belief that talent alone is not enough to guarantee success without preparation, direction and a clearly defined national-team identity.

He cited Morocco as an example of an African side that has benefited from continuity and a consistent approach, noting the country’s ability to repeat its success at the World Cup.

“Morocco did it last time, they did it again this time.”

For Olofinjana, Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 tournaments should therefore be treated not only as a disappointment, but also as a moment to reset. The immediate challenge is to ensure that the green-and-white shirt carries the weight and meaning it once had, while creating the foundations needed for the Super Eagles to return to football’s biggest stage.