Super Eagles legend Segun Odegbami has delivered a withering verdict on the Super Eagles, branding the team “Guinea fowls” after their 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein.
The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner said the performance summed up years of decline and overhype surrounding the national team.
“Which Nigerian does not know that the Super Eagles were overhyped and over pampered?” Odegbami wrote in his Guardian column.
“They had not been impressive and convincing in their performances for well over a decade whilst changing coaches like baby diapers, and massaging the egos of players that could not reciprocate with great performances on the field.”
Segun Odegbami during his playing days for the super Eagles of Nigeria. Photo Credit: Getty Images
He argued that Nigeria’s run to the AFCON 2024 final created false hope.
“The country was so starved of success that when the Super Eagles managed to get to the finals of the African Cup of Nations in January of 2024, and lost, the country had an orgasm, celebrating and rewarding the team as if they had won the World Cup”
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Since then, Odegbami said, the team has struggled for consistency.
“Since then, the Eagles have become like Guinea fowls flying only in short stops and starts, from one match to another, at home and away, putting up average performances, and making Nigerians to feast on prayers for a simple victory.”
On the match itself, William Troost-Ekong’s own goal put Bafana Bafana in front before Calvin Bassey equalised with his first goal for Nigeria.
“At the end, Nigeria did not deserve a victory and the score line (1-1) was reflective of the performances by both teams in a match played on a very bad turf as part of the strategy of the South Africans,” Odegbami added.
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Nigeria face Lesotho and Benin Republic in October with their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup now hanging by a thread.
