In a scathing critique posted on X recently, renowned investigative journalist, David Hundeyin argues that the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, has lost its identity and direction.
According to Hundeyin, the team’s decline stems from a lack of a cohesive footballing philosophy, a problem that began under Sunday Oliseh’s tenure and worsened during Gernot Rohr’s reign. Gone are the days when Nigerian football was defined by possession-based play, swift transitions, and a deep-lying playmaker supported by two dynamic wingers. This distinct style, once visible from the local league to the national team, has all but disappeared.
He wrote on X: “These days, since we no longer have a league worth speaking about, and every half decent youth prospect is exported to Europe before they’ve even figured out what position they’re good at, we just find 11 good individual players with Nigerian names, put them on a pitch together, and call them “Super Eagles.” Nowadays, no Super Eagles team can put together the sort of 15-second triangular passing sequence that we used to take for granted as a core part of Nigerian footballing identity. Starting with Oliseh, then especially with Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles has become a team whose primary tactic is to launch aimless long balls upfield and fight for headers and second balls”.
Today’s Super Eagles, Hundeyin claims, are a collection of talented individuals who lack a shared footballing culture. With most players developing their careers abroad from a young age, the connection to Nigerian football’s traditional roots is severed. Notably, apart from the goalkeeper, none of the current starting 11 have played professional football in Nigeria.
Hundeyin argues that this “Europe-first” approach has made the Super Eagles vulnerable, allowing teams like Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa to consistently challenge them—results that no longer qualify as upsets. He reflects on Stephen Keshi as the last influential figure who understood the dangers of prioritizing foreign-trained players over homegrown talent.
In essence, the Super Eagles are no longer a team built on a clear footballing identity but rather a patchwork of individuals—leaving them directionless on the global stage.
Chai!
