Omokaro Reveals What Super Eagles Must Do to Qualify for the World Cup”
Bright Omokaro, a former player for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, believes the national team needs more intense training together to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He commented following Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Uyo on Friday.
In the World Cup qualifier, the Nigerian team had to come from behind to secure a draw at home. Omokaro emphasized that the Super Eagles require more time playing and training as a unit to improve their performance. While he acknowledged that the recent match wasn’t terrible, he noted that the team could be more skillful and use better strategies to win against their opponents.
Omokaro pointed out that even though the players performed well individually, they lacked coordination and needed more collective effort to score the necessary goals. He suggested that the team’s current issues stem from not having enough time to play together. To address this, he recommends more rigorous joint training sessions to boost their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.
Additionally, Omokaro advised the Super Eagles’ coach, Finidi George, to consider local players who are eager to score and to ensure that players earn their spots based on performance rather than having automatic selections. He stressed the importance of fostering competition within the team to allow the best players to shine.
Omokaro also urged the national team to secure a win against Benin Republic in their next match to improve their standing in the qualifiers. Currently, Nigeria is under pressure, sitting in fifth place in Group C with three points, behind Rwanda, Benin, South Africa, and group leaders Lesotho. Zimbabwe is at the bottom with two points.
The Super Eagles will face Benin Republic in Abidjan for their next 2026 World Cup qualifier on Monday, with the match kicking off at 5:00 p.m. Nigerian time. They hope to achieve their first win in this game.
