June 23, 2026 – Lagos, Nigeria
Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has backed Morocco and Senegal to make significant progress at the 2026 FIFA World Cup while lamenting Nigeria's failure to qualify.
Nigeria failed to qualify from a group featuring South Africa, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and the Republic of Benin, with South Africa eventually topping the standings to claim automatic qualification.
The Super Eagles have now missed two consecutive World Cups, raising concerns about the state of Nigerian football. The failure to qualify has been described as one of the lowest points in Nigerian football history.
Rohr, who coached Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, said Morocco and Senegal have the quality to make a deep run in the tournament. He praised the development of football in both countries and noted that they are reaping the benefits of long-term planning.
"Morocco and Senegal have shown that African teams can compete at the highest level," Rohr said. "Their success is the result of investment in grassroots development, coaching, and infrastructure."
Rohr said Nigeria must learn from its failures and invest in grassroots development, coaching, and infrastructure to return to the World Cup in 2030.
Nigeria has the talent, but talent alone is not enough, Rohr said. We need a long-term plan, investment in youth development, and stability in the coaching set-up.
Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup is a significant setback for Nigerian football. The country must learn from its mistakes and implement reforms to ensure that it qualifies for future tournaments.
The comparison with Morocco and Senegal highlights the importance of long-term planning and investment in football development. Without these, Nigeria will continue to struggle on the international stage.
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