Soccer
Jo Bonfrère and the Super EAGLES. Photo by Imago
Former Super Eagles and South Korea head coach Johannes Bonfrëre has questioned the leadership of the NFF after Nigeria missed out on consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ghana participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Nigeria’s place after the Black Stars sealed an away goal advantage, and DR Congo did the same in 2026, but this time, on penalties.
The failure to participate in the Mundial has tanked the reputation of the Super Eagles on the global stage, and Bonfrere, who led Nigeria to an Olympic gold in 1996, has urged the Football Federation to put in the work to avoid failure in four years.
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Soccer Johannes Bonfrëre queries NFF over Super Eagles World Cup absence
A bronze medal at the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco didn’t make up for a World Cup miss, but the only way to rectify the errors of the past is to avoid them in the present.
The Dutchman, in a recent interview, urged the three-time African Champions to put their woes behind them and put all the effort into sealing a spot at the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
“Super Eagles must put the 2026 World Cup disappointment behind them. Preparation for 2030 and 2034 must start now,” the ex-UEA manager told Complete Sports.
“It is not good that Nigeria will not be at the World Cup in 2026. It is not good for the players, not good for Nigeria, and not good for Africa.
““The Federation (NFF) must learn from the mistakes that led to Nigeria missing the 2026 World Cup. They should correct them and plan properly for 2030, starting with the 2027 AFCON.
“There are many talented Nigerian players in top European clubs, and it will be unfortunate if they miss out on three consecutive World Cups,” the 79-year-old emphasized.
“Nigeria is a giant in Africa. They should lead in everything, especially football, because they have some of the best talents on the continent.
“It is not good that they missed the World Cup in 2022 and 2026, and now we are already talking about 2030. They must put their house in order.
“The world wants to see Nigeria at the World Cup. Fans love the energy and glamour Nigerians bring to the tournament.
“FIFA always enjoys the atmosphere Nigerians create at the World Cup. The world is always looking forward to seeing them again.
The ex-MVV Maastricht scout believes the Nigerian team brings Africa together, and the culture of the nation draws attention to Stadiums.
“We saw it at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The world has not forgotten. In 1994, the world was excited about Nigeria. The same happened in 1998, 2002, 2010 in South Africa, and again in 2014.
“People rushed to buy tickets for Super Eagles matches. Now the world is asking: where is Nigeria?”
“Where are the top Nigerian players playing in the biggest clubs and leagues in the world?
“The NFF must act now to get things right. There is still enough time to prepare properly for the 2030 and even the 2034 World Cups,” Bonfrere concluded.
Bonfrere isn’t the only individual calling on the NFF to step up in the area of talent development. Former Flying Eagles coach, Fatai Amoo, earlier did the same thing.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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