By Adedayo Olumide
While we were still kids, we would rush home or to a neighbour’s room whenever the Super Eagles had football matches to play. I remember our schools would allow us to close early whenever a match was scheduled for the evening.
During World Cup matches, we would try to finish whatever we had to do so we could watch the game from beginning to end. I will never forget one particular match Nigeria played against Argentina around 3 a.m.—we literally kept vigil just to watch it. Those were the good old days.
Sadly, many Nigerians today cannot remember the last time they had that kind of zeal to watch Nigeria’s matches, especially the Super Eagles, because their performances have been so disappointing in recent years.
Nigeria, the self-acclaimed Giant of Africa, failed to qualify for the last World Cup and, as it stands, it doesn’t seem like we will qualify for the next one unless a rare miracle happens. It is sad that a nation once the pride of the continent in World Cup tournaments now struggles even to qualify.
One major factor has been largely responsible: Super Eagles coaches. They have been obstinate, arrogant, stubborn, irresponsible, and ultimately the reason behind the nation’s downfall on the big stage.
I remember the last match that sealed Nigeria’s fate in the last World Cup qualifiers—it was against Ghana. Before the match, popular Nigerian prophet Primate Elijah Ayodele warned Coach Austin Eguavoen about certain players he should not field. He specifically warned against playing Musa. But instead of heeding the warning, Eguavoen brushed it off and responded by asking the prophet to pray for the team instead. He went into the match, fielded Musa against the warnings, and cost Nigeria a place in the tournament.
This was his response to Primate Ayodele’s warning:
“He is a man of God and sometimes you’ve to give it to them. But he is a Nigerian; if you know him, please tell him to overturn it because it will be a joyous thing for Nigeria to be in Qatar in 2022.
He can overturn it because he is a man of God and he prays, and God listens to him. He is an intermediary between us and God. It is easier said than done. We have worked hard and fought to make sure we want the ticket more than Ghana wants it. You know Nigeria is a country that prays a lot, so we will continue to pray, but we will work hard. We want it more than Ghana and we will get it.”
Now, with the new coach, Eric Chelle, Primate Ayodele has been warning him since the qualifiers began regarding the use of some players. The prophet, who has always openly supported Nigeria and prays for the team out of passion, warned against fielding Captain William Ekong. In fact, he stated that Ekong should not be allowed to lead Nigeria to the World Cup because it would amount to nothing.
These were his words in July:
“Nothing can stop Nigeria from going to the 2026 FIFA World Cup except if we don’t listen. There are three things the NFF needs to do. If that captain Ekong, or whatever his name is—the one who drew tattoos—leads us to the World Cup, we will fail.”
Many who saw this prophetic warning may have thought Primate Ayodele had a personal issue with Ekong. But with the last two matches we played, anyone with that perception would now understand that Primate Ayodele was right.
In the match against Rwanda, Ekong did not start, and Nigeria scored—we emerged victorious and were pumped up for the next game against South Africa. But the downfall began when Ekong scored an unbelievable own goal, putting Nigerian players under pressure. We later equalized, but sadly it wasn’t enough to secure victory.
Just imagine if Ekong had not played in that match. Nigeria might not have conceded that own goal, and with Bassey’s goal, we could have won and positioned ourselves comfortably on the table.
Coaches need to understand that in sports, there is not only physical strategy but also spiritual strategy. If that weren’t true, Primate Ayodele’s prophetic advice has now made it clear. It has happened twice with Nigeria, costing us great opportunities and privileges—we cannot afford to continue this way.
