The Nigerian national team unexpectedly fails the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Fans’ expectations were high, but the team has not won a single victory in the first four matches. What is the reason for such a weak start? Who is to blame – the coaching staff, the players or the football federation? We analyze the team’s main problems, because the group was considered the easiest, and even now experts do not understand why the once powerful team has only won 3 draws in 4 matches and lost to Benin. Many fans who bet on the victories of the “super eagles” through 22bet Nigeria are now confused – the team clearly does not live up to expectations. It is also worth making predictions for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in this bookmaker, where there is an excellent line, painting and high odds.
The Nigerian national team’s problems: recent results are depressing
The Nigerian national football team has always been considered one of the strongest teams in Africa, but the 2026 World Cup qualifying round is going extremely poorly for them. After four rounds, the “Super Eagles” cannot boast of a single victory, which is causing serious concern among fans and experts.
After a successful performance at the African Cup, many expected Nigeria to confidently begin the 2026 World Cup qualification. However, instead of bright victories, disappointing draws and painful defeats followed. Who would have thought that the Nigerians would not be able to beat Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and that they even lost to Benin, although they were leading. That goal was the only strike, and Nigeria played very poorly in the second half.
2026 World Cup qualifying: why not a single victory in 4 matches?
Let’s analyze the key reasons for the failure of the Nigerian national team in the first matches of the qualification. What happened:
Problems with converting chances. The team creates many scoring opportunities, but cannot convert them. Victor Boniface, the team’s leading scorer, has not yet shown his best game. Nigeria dominates matches in terms of ball possession, but the lack of composure in the final stages of attacks affects the result.
Errors in defense. The team’s defensive line looks extremely unstable. Frequent positional errors, confusion during set pieces and poor teamwork of the central defenders lead to missed goals. Even weak opponents skillfully exploit the gaps in the Super Eagles’ defense.
Personnel problems and injuries. Some of the team’s leaders are either injured or not in the best shape. The head coach has not yet found the optimal combination of players in midfield, which negatively affects the overall organization of the game.
Tactical miscalculations. The coaching staff has not yet managed to find an effective tactical scheme. The team is too predictable in attack and not flexible enough in defense. Sometimes it seems that the coaches cannot properly react to changes in the course of the match.
It is worth highlighting the psychological pressure separately, because after several failures, the players began to feel it in excessive quantities. Fans and the media harshly criticize the team, which further aggravates the situation. Nigeria is a football nation, and the failures of the national team are perceived here especially painfully.
Which players does the Nigerian national team lack?
In this qualifying round, the absence of some key players is especially noticeable. Here is who the team clearly lacks:
Wilfred Ndidi is a reliable defensive midfielder who can accelerate attacks and cover defenders. His absence makes the center of the field less organized.
Samuel Chukwueze is a fast wing forward who can break down any defense. His unconventional actions in attack are now urgently needed.
Taiwo Awonyi is a forward who could increase the competition in attack and add variability in attack.
Most likely, the national team needs to make some changes in the squad to fix the situation. Perhaps it is worth betting on young players who can bring fresh energy to the team. And the conflict with Victor Osimhen should be resolved by calling him back. He played in the CAN qualification, but did not participate in the group at the 2026 World Cup – are there continuing friction with the coach or did they simply underestimate the opponents?
Conclusion
Nigeria found itself in a difficult situation at the start of the 2026 World Cup qualification. If the team cannot correct its mistakes, the dream of going to the World Cup may be unrealistic. However, the opponents are still weak and are not far behind the Nigerians: a couple of confident victories will help to fix the situation!
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