Super Eagles: Bonfrere demands long-term plans after W’Cup exit
Former Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Jo Bonfrere, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to shift its focus toward a long-term developmental blueprint for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World
- Our Reporters
Former Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Jo Bonfrere, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to shift its focus toward a long-term developmental blueprint for the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cups following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
Nigeria will be absent for a second consecutive World Cup when the 48-team tournament kicks off across Canada, Mexico, and the United States this June.
The Super Eagles' path to 2026 was ended last November after a high-stakes playoff loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This followed the team's previous disappointment in 2022, where they were eliminated by eternal rivals Ghana on the away-goals rule in Abuja.
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Speaking in an interview on Monday, the Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold-winning coach insisted that the current technical crew, led by Éric Chelle, must move past the recent setback and begin immediate structural planning.
“The Super Eagles must put the 2026 World Cup disappointment behind them,” Bonfrere stated. “Preparation for 2030 and 2034 must start now. Success is not an overnight event; it requires a decade of planning.”
Bonfrere emphasized that early scouting and the integration of younger talent into the national setup are critical if Nigeria is to return to the global stage as a competitive force in four years' time.
