Dalung Warns: Nigeria’s World Cup Future Hinges On ‘Extraordinary’ Turnaround

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Ilorin in Kwara State on Wednesday, Dalung stated that extraordinary efforts would be needed for the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He noted that the team’s World Cup campaign has faced significant challenges since 2018, with no qualification achieved after that historic entry.

Dalung highlighted the disappointment following the team’s failure to build on their victory over Rwanda, ultimately drawing with Zimbabwe, which, he said, dashed hopes for a strong World Cup qualification campaign.

“The campaign is not going well. After the win against Rwanda, I had hope that the Eagles would regain momentum, but the draw with Zimbabwe has put a halt to that progress. Unless something extraordinary happens, the chances for qualification are slim,” he remarked.

The former Minister also pointed out that the lack of committed leadership in Nigeria’s sports sector is a major contributing factor to the decline in football and overall sports development. He criticized the policy inconsistencies and leadership changes, stressing that the disbandment of the Ministry of Sports and its replacement with the National Sports Commission has further weakened the political will to drive sports forward.

Dalung emphasized the importance of strong, focused leadership to guide the country’s sports sector and lamented the lost opportunity to inspire the players and mobilize Nigerians for success due to the leadership vacuum. “Even with the best coach in the world, a political will is needed to inspire and unite the nation for victory. Sadly, that leadership is missing,” he concluded.