Torsten Frank Spittler, head coach of Rwanda’s national football team, shared his insights on Nigeria’s struggles in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers in an exclusive interview with Brila.net.

Despite Nigeria’s impressive performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, where they narrowly lost to Cote d’Ivoire in the final, the Super Eagles have found it challenging to replicate their success in the World Cup qualifiers.

Nigeria has only managed to secure three points from four matches, including a surprising loss to Benin Republic.

“First, you have to say these are totally two different situations,” Spittler explained.

“In the final tournament like AFCON in January, the coach has two or three weeks to train with the team, allowing players to understand their roles and positions.

“However, during World Cup qualifiers, players come in every three months, and you only have one or two training sessions before a match. This makes it difficult for players to find their rhythm and understand their place in the team.”

Spittler highlighted the unique challenges faced by Nigeria, given the high caliber of players they have.

“Nigeria has many players in top teams and leagues around the world. Each player comes with their own management and media support.

“When a coach decides not to play a particular star, it creates a tough situation with potential conflicts behind the scenes.”

He added, “Fortunately, I don’t have these problems as the coach in Nigeria has to face. The dynamic is entirely different and presents unique challenges.”

While Rwanda leads Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Spittler remains respectful of Nigeria’s potential to overcome these challenges and that that Super Eagles still have a chance to qualify.