Ogbuefi Gabriel Chukwuma, proprietor of Gabros International FC and a former vice chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has delivered a scathing verdict on Nigeria’s World Cup campaign, declaring that the Super Eagles have no realistic chance of qualifying for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Chukwuma said he had warned long before preparations began that Nigeria’s hopes would collapse without a top–tier coach. According to him, he had even offered to contribute financially if that was what it took to bring in world-class expertise. Instead, he alleged, NFF officials brushed aside his concerns, misled President Bola Tinubu, and sold false optimism to football-loving Nigerians.
“I told them clearly: if you want results, hire a world-class coach,” he said. “But because they were more interested in sharing money with unqualified coaches, they ignored me. Today, the results speak for themselves.”
The outspoken football administrator argued that the current leadership not only failed to deliver but also continues to deceive Nigerians with talk of a possible playoff ticket. “Anybody still believing in that playoff narrative is only compounding the deception,” he stressed. “Nigeria has talented footballers, but they don’t function as a team. That’s why scoring goals has become a nightmare. Imagine having Victor Osimhen, a former African Footballer of the Year, and Ademola Lookman, the reigning one, yet struggling to find the net at home.”
He lamented that this decline runs deep, pointing to the collapse of virtually every level of Nigerian football under the current administration — from the U-17 and U-20 sides, to the U-23s, the CHAN Eagles, and now the senior national team’s World Cup hopes. “Tomorrow they will try to point to WAFCON as an achievement,” Chukwuma said. “But that’s a trophy Nigeria has lifted nine times, thanks to the commitment of the women themselves, not because of Gusau’s leadership.”
For him, the solution is clear: the NFF leadership must step down. “What are they waiting for? In other countries, when people fail, they resign. That’s the honourable thing to do. Gusau and his men should give way for others who can deliver.”
He also dismissed excuses offered by coach Eric Chelle, who blamed player injuries for the recent defeat to South Africa in Bloemfontein. “That’s a flimsy excuse,” Chukwuma said. “Nigeria never had a real coach to begin with. They had over a year to prepare, yet chose to waste resources on unqualified hands. When Tinubu eventually realizes how he has been deceived, the truth will explode in their faces.”
Chukwuma’s message was blunt: the World Cup dream is gone, and prolonging the illusion only wastes time and money. For him, the only way forward is accountability and a fresh start for Nigerian football.
— Zoyols Blog
