APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan-Enoh, has joined millions of football fans in Nigeria to call for improvement in the performance of the Super Eagles after the country’s national team played a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday in Uyo in southeastern Nigeria.
Although the Super Eagles dominated the game but the visitors took the lead and the Super Eagles were able to hold the Crocodiles to a 1-1 draw, which Nigerian fans described as an upset for the Super Eagles.
However, the coach of the Super Eagles Jose Peseiro has described the 1-1 draw against Lesotho as an ill-fated encounter rather than a flat-footed performance.
Reacting to the Super Eagles draw against the Crocodiles of Lesotho, the Sports Development Minister expressed concern over the draw and demanded improved performance from the Super Eagles.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja the minister said: “The Government and football-loving people of Nigeria take the qualification for the 2026 World Cup very seriously and want the Super Eagles to qualify.
“Having missed out on the 2022 world cup in Qatar, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is not negotiable.”
He charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the technical crew to urgently address the observed lapses from the Thursday match, ahead of the Zimbabwe match on Sunday.
“I urge the Nigeria Football Federation to look into and correct all the lapses observed in Thursday’s match with the aim of putting in a much better performance in Rwanda on Sunday, Nov. 19, against Zimbabwe,” he said.
Addressing the broadcasting limitations that prevented some Nigerians from watching the national team in action, Owen-Enoh urged the NFF to register Nigeria’s dissatisfaction with the appropriate authorities.
“We understand that the qualifiers are FIFA-organised, and so the television broadcasting rights are within purview of the world football governing body.
“It is not good enough that many Nigerians could not watch their national team play in their country.
“A repeat of same should be avoided, and NFF will be expected to register Nigeria’s displeasure with the appropriate authority in FIFA,” he said.
The minister called on all Nigerians to support the team, while urging them to exhibit sharper gameplay throughout the remaining qualifying series.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles have arrived in Rwanda ahead of their second World Cup Qualifying match against the Warriors of Zimbabwe on Sunday.
GIK/APA
Nigeria’s Sports Minister urges improvement from Super Eagles after Lesotho draw
