- Mobi Oparaku, a 1996 Olympic gold medalist, stressed that Nigeria must play as a united force rather than relying on individual brilliance
- The Super Eagles suffered a 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in Uyo during the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, raising concerns over team chemistry
- Rwanda leads Group C with seven points, while South Africa and Benin are level on points but behind on goal difference
With Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes hanging by a thread, former Super Eagles defender Mobi Oparaku has urged head coach Eric Chelle to prioritise team cohesion over individual brilliance.
Oparaku, a member of Nigeria’s historic Olympic gold medal-winning squad in 1996, believes that Nigeria’s struggles in the qualifiers stem from a lack of unity on the pitch.
The Super Eagles, who have secured just three points from their opening four matches, find themselves in a precarious position in Group C. Rwanda currently leads the group with seven points, while South Africa and Benin are level on points but behind on goal difference. Nigeria, meanwhile, sits fifth, trailing the leaders by four points.
Oparaku calls for unity
As Nigeria prepares for their crucial back-to-back fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, Oparaku emphasised that the team must adopt a collective mindset. He stressed that playing as a unit, rather than as individuals, would be key to reviving their qualification campaign,
“When they come out next month, they should not come out as individuals playing for Nigeria, but they should come out as a team that is representing Nigeria,” Oparaku said.
He further explained the importance of building a cohesive squad, adding,
“There is a difference between a player that comes to represent the Super Eagles and a team of players that come out to represent Nigeria. When they come out as a team that represents the country, we can then talk about what they have, but not as individuals. But when we speak about individuals, it means we don’t have a team.”
Oparaku expressed hope that newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle would be able to instil a strong team mentality in the squad ahead of the decisive qualifiers.
Super Eagles’ qualification challenge
Nigeria’s campaign has been underwhelming so far, with the team failing to secure wins against South Africa, Benin, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. Their most recent defeat came at the hands of Rwanda in Uyo during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, a loss that raised concerns about the team’s ability to perform under pressure.
Despite that setback, the Super Eagles still managed to qualify for the AFCON tournament in Morocco, but their World Cup ambitions remain in serious jeopardy.
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle now faces the daunting task of turning things around. With matches against Rwanda on March 21 in Kigali and Zimbabwe on March 25 in Uyo, the pressure is on to deliver maximum points. A failure to do so could see Nigeria fall further behind in the qualification race.
NFF sympathises with board vice president after encounter with armed robbers
Previously, TheRadar reported that Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the first vice president of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and a revered figure in Nigerian football, is recovering after a terrifying armed robbery at his residence in Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.
The NFF, led by President Ibrahim Gusau, has rallied around Anyansi-Agwu in the aftermath of the incident. Gusau, accompanied by NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, visited the family to show support and offer prayers for a swift recovery.
