Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has expressed concern over Nigeria’s precarious position in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, urging immediate action to salvage the team’s chances.
The three-time African champion, finds itself struggling in its qualification group. The Super Eagles are currently 5th in the standings, second from the bottom, with just three points from four matches.
Only the group leader will earn an automatic ticket to the World Cup, leaving Nigeria’s campaign hanging by a thread.
2026 FIFA World Cup logo. (Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
In an exclusive interview with Brila.net, Dalung insists that earlier intervention could have helped the team avoid this dire situation.
“He (John Owan Enoh) did not invite some of us. I don’t know whether he invited any other people. But he did not even invite those who were supposed to have been there to assist him with the experiences of how he could manage the ministry.
“And you can imagine now Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers. And we are at the bottom of the ladder. A giant now, lying on the ground. We will need some miracles to be able to rise and qualify.”
Dalung described the situation as chaotic and stressed that urgent measures are needed. He suggested the formation of a presidential task force to steer the World Cup qualification efforts.
“There was a tradition I dispensed with when I was a minister, but we will now need to revisit it as an emergency measure to cure this current situation. That is, the president will now need a presidential tax force for the qualification, the World Cup qualification.”
He warned that without decisive action, Nigeria’s chances of qualifying are slim.
“We are already heading towards not qualifying. So it’s a rescue mission. If there is any magician that is assuring us maybe it’s either from any of the traditional religions. we have worked for not qualifying, so we need an administrative emergency and assertive mechanism that would take up the issue and mobilize those with the relevant experiences to come in and rescue the situation.”
Dalung emphasized that a coordinated rescue mission is the only way forward
“At the end of the day, maybe we may do better and in March by Grace, we’ll be considered best on performance. But how do we make it well”
Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign resumes in March 2025 with six matches remaining.
The Super Eagles will need to capitalize on every opportunity to climb the table and keep their hopes alive. If they fail to top the group, their only chance will be to secure a place in the playoffs.
