Sam Sodje urges long-term Super Eagles vision: “Build identity over chasing results”

By Dayo Awoniyi

Abuja — Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has called for a shift in Nigeria’s football philosophy, urging the national team to prioritize building a clear identity and long-term structure over short-term results.

Reacting to Nigeria’s recent Unity Cup victory, Sodje said that while wins are important, friendly tournaments like the Unity Cup should primarily serve as platforms for tactical experimentation and squad development.

“Every game for Nigeria is important, even friendlies like the Unity Cup,” Sodje told journalists.

“But the focus should not be on just winning. It should be on building a proper system and preparing the team for serious competitions ahead.”

He praised head coach Eric Chelle for taking advantage of the Unity Cup to assess both home-based and foreign-based players, noting the balanced selection as key to squad growth and uncovering new talent.

Nigeria retained the Unity Cup title with a 5-4 win on penalties over Jamaica after a thrilling contest, offering Chelle a positive result as he continues reshaping the squad.

Sodje stressed that while the Super Eagles are not yet fully ready for the global stage, tournaments like these allow valuable time to test systems, build chemistry, and strengthen team cohesion.

Looking ahead, Nigeria will face Russia in an international friendly on June 6, with World Cup qualifiers looming in September.

“While victories are good,” Sodje concluded, “long-term success depends on structure, cohesion, and consistency in team development.”