Ex-international defends federation, backs coach Chelle
Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has laid the blame for the Super Eagles’ faltering 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign squarely on the players, while dismissing calls for the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive committee.
Nigeria faces an uphill battle to qualify from Group C, currently sitting third with 11 points after eight matches, behind South Africa (17 points) and Benin Republic (14 points), with only two games left.
What Ikpeba said
Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, Ikpeba argued that critics of the NFF “do not understand the efforts” the federation has made to support the national team.
Ikpeba stressed that the current squad has been provided with everything necessary to succeed.
“Our players should take the lion’s share of the blame for our shoddy performance so far in the World Cup qualifiers,” he said via Complete Sports.
“They were given everything they needed to deliver qualification without stress, but somehow they have not lived up to expectations. I won’t question their commitment, but with the quality of players we have, Nigeria should not be struggling in our group,” he added.
He further questioned the logic behind demands for NFF resignations, “Why are some people calling for the resignation of the NFF? Do they expect committee members to come and play the game on the pitch?”
The “Prince of Monaco” threw his weight behind current Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, describing him as the right man to restore stability and competitiveness.
“Chelle is doing a good job and I believe we wouldn’t be in this situation if he had started the qualifiers with the Super Eagles,” Ikpeba said.
He argued that Nigeria’s early struggles stemmed from the two different coaches who handled the first four qualifying matches. In contrast, Chelle, he claimed, is fostering healthy competition within the squad.
“He will create competition for places in the squad and make use of the talented players we have abroad. He hasn’t dismissed any player, but he is creating an environment for healthy competition by giving opportunities to different players to fight for a place,” he said.
Ikpeba also highlighted off-field issues as a key factor affecting the Super Eagles’ fortunes.
“The biggest problem of the Super Eagles is the distraction in camp before and after matches. I expect the NFF to tackle that problem,” he said.
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in World Cup qualifying, Ikpeba remains optimistic about Chelle’s leadership, insisting the coach can still guide Nigeria to success at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“Chelle can still lead Nigeria to the AFCON, irrespective of the outcome of our World Cup bid,” he concluded.
