NFF, spare Super Eagles ‘behind closed doors’ friendlies

In organised football, friendly matches are not only crucial for team building, they are also opportunities for clubs and national teams to test their might against more formidable opponents. Permit me to repeat that friendly matches help coaches to test new team formations, try players, blend old and new players and enhance team bonding. This […]

In organised football, friendly matches are not only crucial for team building, they are also opportunities for clubs and national teams to test their might against more formidable opponents. Permit me to repeat that friendly matches help coaches to test new team formations, try players, blend old and new players and enhance team bonding. This is why countries or clubs still engage in friendly matches despite the risk of injuries to their key players.

It is, therefore, commendable that as part of its “pride-restoring” campaign after another botched World Cup bid, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), deemed it necessary to utilise the recent international break to keep the Super Eagles busy and provide the coach with the opportunity to test new players.

So, while other countries were sweating it out in Mexico for tickets to the 2026 World Cup, the Super Eagles played two friendly matches against World Cup-bound teams – Iran and Jordan in Turkiye. While they defeated war-troubled Iran 2-1, the Super Eagles were forced to a 2-2 draw by Jordan, who will be making their first World Cup appearance soon.

Even as the NFF deserves commendation for ensuring that the Super Eagles are counted among teams that made judicious use of the international break, most Nigerians are of the opinion that the former African champions deserve more quality friendly matches. Watching the Super Eagles play in a near-empty stadium was no doubt an embarrassment and devaluation of the team ranked 26th in the world and third in Africa.

When compared with the capacity crowd witnessed before, during and after the friendly match between reigning African champions Senegal and Peru at Stade de France, it was crystal clear that the matches Nigeria played against Iran and Jordan were more of training sessions than international matches.

If at this time that the Super Eagles boast of some of the best players in world football the NFF can’t use the opportunity created by the presence of these immensely talented players to secure high-profile friendly matches, it calls for serious concern.

It only points to the fact that instead of progressing, the national team is moving backwards. So, Nigerians are asking if football giants like France, Spain, Argentina, Portugal or Brazil are too big for the Super Eagles to face.

I can recall that Nigeria once had a reputation for seeking out the world’s best to test their “Super Eagle’ mettle. Some of the high-profile friendlies played by Nigeria in recent history include the 1-1 draw against almighty Brazil in Singapore in 2019. And preparatory to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Super Eagles tested their readiness against England at the iconic Wembley Stadium. Although the Three Lions triumphed 2-1, the match no doubt advertised Nigerian football on a big stage.

Of course, it is too soon to forget one of Nigeria’s most impressive “giant-killing” performances in the country’s football history when the Super Eagles recorded a legendary comeback victory against Argentina. Nigeria looked down and out early on in the friendly match played on November 14, 2017 at the Krasnodar Stadium in Russia, but the Super Eagles completely overwhelmed the Argentines in the second half to win 4-2, recording what still stands as one of the biggest upsets in world football.

It may be argued that Argentina’s most influential player and captain, Lionel Messi didn’t play, but the reigning world champions paraded notable players like Angel Di Maria, Sergio Augero, Dybala and a host of other stars, yet the Super Eagles dominated proceedings to underscore their rating as a powerhouse in football.

Unfortunately, instead of the NFF to build on these historic and memorable outings, the Super Eagles are now exposed to low-profile friendly matches, leaving many to wonder how the federation usually arrives or settles for these matches.

It is also necessary to note that while Nigeria was playing against Iran and Jordan, other African countries were also in action against formidable opponents who tested their quality. For instance, Senegal defeated Peru 2-0, Morocco drew 1-1 with Ecuador, Cameroon lost 0-1 to Australia, 10-man Egypt held Spain to a 0-0 draw in Barcelona and edged Saudi Arabia 4-1, even as Ghana got hammered 5-1 by Austria before the narrow 1-2 loss to Germany.

There were mixed results for the African teams, but something was glaring: useful lessons were learnt in the defeats and victories recorded. Moreover, those matches attracted huge crowds, unlike the two matches the Super Eagles played against Iran and Jordan.

It is only someone who has never played football that can dismiss the role spectators in the stands play during matches. High-intensity cheering helps players to put in their best. It increases players’ energy and speed as they do everything to meet up with the yearnings of the 12th man in the stands. This type of electrifying match atmosphere was denied the Super Eagles, who played “behind closed doors” in Turkiye.

Accepted, there are no longer minnows in world football, but this is not true in all cases. Some teams are still bigger and favoured to win at any time. Moreover, FIFA-sanctioned friendlies (Tier 1) still award ranking points. It is a well-known fact that higher ranking usually leads to better seeding in future tournament draws, helping teams avoid “groups of death.”

The NFF should know this and begin to consider carefully its choice of friendly matches for the Super Eagles. Of course, the decline in the Nigerian senior national team is obvious, but the Eagles of Nigeria are still a force to be reckoned with in world football. A team that parades world-class players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Samuel Chukwueze shouldn’t be subjected to “low-budget” friendly matches “behind closed doors.” Yes, “behind closed doors” because there were no spectators inside the stadium in Atylana.

Against this background, it was indeed heartwarming news when the NFF announced on Thursday that its FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, had secured two friendly matches for the Super Eagles against Poland and Portugal in June. What is even more important is that the two matches will be played in these countries before their teeming fans. This is the way to respect the Super Eagles who deserve more quality friendly matches.

However, let me repeat that apart from helping the fortunes of Nigeria in the latest FIFA rankings, it is difficult to say if the Super Eagles gained any other thing from the friendlies against Iran and Jordan. In fact, the last match against Jordan almost descended into chaos after Alex Iwobi physically attacked an opponent. Surely, if he were playing against a big team parading big-name players, his reaction to the shirt tugging incident would have been better. Anyway, he was rightly shown a straight red card for his violent behaviour.

Anyway, he who brings an ant-infested log into his compound is visited by lizards or ants. Super Eagles players have made themselves cheap with mediocre performances, especially the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and can be underrated; however, the NFF should spare the team these lowly-rated friendly matches.