'Let's not lie' - 2013 Afcon final match winner blasts Super Eagles over WCQ form ahead of Gabon clash

Retired Nigeria international Sunday Mba, best remembered for scoring the decisive goal in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, has delivered a damning assessment of the Super Eagles ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff clash against Gabon.

The former Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves midfielder lamented that the three-time African champions now find themselves struggling to secure a place at next year's global showpiece in North America, a situation he attributed to their poor form during the group stage of the qualifiers.

Nigeria only managed to sneak into the playoffs after a commanding 4-0 victory over Gernot Rohr's Cheetahs in Uyo on October 14.

In truth, their qualification for the playoffs owed much to fortune as they only advanced after the Confederation of African Football erased points earned against bottom-placed teams when determining the best second-placed sides.

The Super Eagles were staring elimination in the face until the 90th minute when Frank Onyeka scored a fourth goal that kept their qualification hopes alive.

Nigeria's campaign was marred by inconsistency, as they recorded five draws in the qualifiers — only Angola registered more (six). 

The team repeatedly dropped points in matches they were expected to win and also suffered a costly defeat to Benin in Abidjan.

Mba did not mince words as he criticised the current state of the national team.

In an interview with a member of the Super Eagles media team Ayo Olu Ibidapo, Mba said: “I am not impressed with the Super Eagles. If you are a true follower of football in Nigeria, you won’t be happy with what the Super Eagles are doing.

"Let's not lie or be sentimental, we shouldn't sugarcoat anything. If we had won all our matches, we wouldn't be in this mess now. 

"Imagine the number one team in West Africa struggling for a playoff spot, which we are not even sure of.

"We should have won all our matches so that whoever makes the playoffs, we would be looking at them confidently."

Looking ahead to Nigeria's crucial encounter against Gabon, a side boasting former Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mba called for focus from the Super Eagles.

"I cannot say yes and I cannot say no, but I just believe we should take it step by step. First game first, and then we’ll see.

"If we play like we did against Benin, I am 100% behind them. But if we don’t have that same spirit, it will be shaky."

The Super Eagles have qualified for the Fifa World Cup on six occasions, reaching the round of 16 in the 1994, 1998 and 2014 editions. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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