Former Super Eagles coach Bonfrère Jo has expressed deep disappointment over Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, calling it an unacceptable result for a team filled with top European-based players.
“How do you expect to qualify for the World Cup if you don’t win games?” the Dutch tactician questioned.
Reminiscing about Nigeria’s dominant past, he added, “Back in the day, if we didn’t beat Zimbabwe 3-0 or 4-0, the fans would throw stones at us. Now, with so many Super Eagles stars playing at the highest level in Europe, struggling against Zimbabwe is embarrassing.”
Bonfrère Jo fears Nigeria’s path to the World Cup could be in jeopardy unless they make drastic improvements. “Maybe they can still qualify through the play-offs, but this isn’t the standard we expect.”
Although he didn’t watch the match, he raised concerns about the team’s preparation and execution. “Did the coach have enough information on Zimbabwe? Were the tactics wrong? Did the players fail to follow instructions? If they had taken their chances and scored two or three more goals, that late equalizer wouldn’t have mattered.”
The former coach lamented Nigeria’s fading dominance in African football, stating, “Small teams now look the Super Eagles in the eye and ask, ‘What can you do?’ No one fears Nigeria anymore, and that’s worrying.”
