Award-winning Nigerian musician Odumodublvck and other fans have launched scathing attacks on the Nigeria Football Federation following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with South Africa that left the country on the brink of missing back-to-back World Cups for the first time in their history.
The musician, whose real name is Tochukwu Ojogwu, led the chorus of criticism on social media platform X, describing the NFF as ‘a terrible organisation’ after Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes faded dramatically following Tuesday’s result in Bloemfontein.
‘NFF is a terrible organisation. Back-to-back World Cups. It’s a total disgrace. It’s wicked people that fill this country up, I swear. The one thing that gives your people joy, you are making them suffer, you are bad people’, Odumodublvck wrote.
The draw with South Africa left Nigeria in third position in Group C with 11 points, six points behind leaders South Africa with just two games remaining. The result means the Super Eagles face the unprecedented prospect of missing consecutive World Cups, having already failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Social media user Inioluwa Nuel highlighted the personal cost to Nigeria’s star players, noting that key figures could miss their prime years without World Cup experience.
‘By 2030, Osimhen will be 31 years old, Lookman will be 32 years old, Ola Aina will be 33 years old, and Calvin Bassey will be 30 years old without ever kicking a ball in the World Cup. That’s how bad the NFF has robbed them’, he wrote.
Another user, @AJSilverCFC, sarcastically applauded the federation’s handling of the qualifying campaign.
‘It’d take a miracle to qualify for the World Cup now. I’d like to applaud everyone at the NFF for all the good calls they made from the start of the World Cup qualifiers till date. Utter disgrace’, the fan wrote.
However, not all criticism was directed solely at the NFF. User Okafor Nwa suggested looking ahead whilst acknowledging deeper systemic issues.
‘All the rants are confusing me. World Cup 2030 isn’t too far to start planning for. The way we found out Benjamin Frederick is the way we can get other guys to come into this squad. This loss isn’t (George) Finidi or (Jose) Pesiero or Chelle. It is a reflection of our country/football. NFF overhaul’, he posted.
@iDanDizzy drew parallels between football criticism and broader national issues, writing: ‘People that blame Super Eagles players instead of the NFF for not qualifying for the World Cup are the same people that blame Nigerians instead of elected officials for the corruption in the country’.
The criticism extended to the federation’s operational capabilities, with user Adeayo listing multiple failings.
‘Can’t appoint a decent coach, can’t prepare well for a tournament, can’t pay players their remuneration and bonus on time, can’t run a football agency, still don’t have the decency to resign. The story of the Nigerian Football Federation. An absolutely useless organisation’, he wrote.
@tosinmm specifically blamed poor coaching appointments and questionable player selections for the qualifying campaign’s failure.
‘Nigeria not qualifying for the World Cup 2026 is all down to the NFF. Hiring Jose Peseiro and Finidi George were two silly decisions. Calling up players like Sodiq Ismaila, Benjamin Tanimu and Ibrahim Olawoyin, this was all bound to fail. Shortsighted decisions got them here’, the user posted.
The most extreme reaction came from @nuradeeeen, who called for wholesale changes: ‘Sack Eric Chelle. Don’t ever invite these players. Jail the NFF chairman and demolish the NFF headquarters’.
The widespread criticism reflects deep frustration among Nigerian football fans who watched their team fail to capitalise on home advantage throughout the qualifying campaign. Nigeria’s struggles included costly draws at home to Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe, results that have now left them requiring mathematical miracles to reach the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles’ qualifying campaign has been marked by coaching instability, with the team going through multiple coaches, including Jose Peseiro, Finidi George, and current boss Eric Chelle. The constant leadership changes have been cited as a major factor in the team’s inconsistent performances.
Nigeria will conclude their qualifying campaign in October with fixtures against Lesotho at home and Benin Republic away. They must win both matches and hope South Africa drop points in their remaining games to have any chance of qualification.
