Players of the senior national team of Nigeria have expressed their fears over the recent World Cup 2026 qualifiers draw, which pitched them in group C alongside South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Benin Republic and Lesotho, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Only the top teams from the nine groups will qualify automatically for the tournament that will take place in Mexico, Canada and the United States of America. Nigeria went into the draws as one of the top seeded nine teams.
Reacting to the draws, one of the players said it’s not a group that should scared Nigerians but the main issue is the unresolved issue of who will lead the team during the qualifiers. ” That group isn’t that tough but we don’t have a coach yet”, he said making reference to the fact that the contract of the current head coach Jose Peseiro has expired and there is no talks about an extension or replacement.
Another one, who hasn’t been a part of the last three squads said the uncertainty over who will lead the team has already set them backwards because the qualifiers start in November, and any serious coach will start gathering informations about his group opponents.
” Maybe I am too European but by now a serious coach should be working on his opponents because the games start in November. We don’t even know who is the coach. You guys in the media are not really seem how costly this move is”, he stated.
Two senior players of the team were more worried about the fact that bonuses and all that should fire the team hasn’t been paid since 2021 saying it is a cause for concern. ” Lack of bonuses is a huge distraction. Since 2021 and we are in 2023, then we don’t have a coach. It’s hard to admit but we are already backward in terms of preparation but no one seems to care”, one of them angrily said.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
