Nigeria's Sports Minister, John Enoh, has voiced concerns about the quality of some players in the Super Eagles. After disappointing performances against South Africa and Benin Republic, Enoh highlighted the commitment and drive of certain players, particularly those born abroad, which have been questioned by fans and pundits alike.
In an interview with Eagle7 FM, Enoh stated, "We have about 90 percent of players in the Super Eagles who were not born in Nigeria. Do they possess the spirit and fire of a Nigerian-born player?"
He added, "There are some players in the team who are not good enough for the Super Eagles. While we discuss the quality of the coach, we must also consider the quality of the players."
Despite these concerns, Enoh remains optimistic about the Super Eagles' chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Currently, the team is in the 5th spot out of 6 teams in Group C of the qualifiers after four games. The Super Eagles, without a permanent head coach, have six more games to play, all of which they must win to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The sports minister believes qualification is still possible if the players adopt the right mentality and the team is led by a coach committed to the qualification effort. "The majority opinion is that it’s not impossible yet (to qualify for the World Cup)," Enoh told Eagle7 FM on Saturday.