Nigeria’s sports ministry has demanded an explanation for the country’s poor 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign, labelling it “unacceptable” after a 2-1 defeat by Benin left the Super Eagles winless from their opening four games.
Following draws with Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa, Monday’s result means Nigeria sit fifth in Group C with three points from a possible 12.
Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at the World Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“Our supporters are passionate and devoted,” senator John Owan Enoh, minister of sports development, said in a statement.
“They deserve an explanation for why our national team has not been performing to the expected standards since after the last Africa Cup of Nations.
“The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) must provide a comprehensive technical report explaining the reasons behind this poor showing and give cause why there mustn’t be consequences.
“The recent results are unacceptable.”
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, losing on away goals to Ghana in the play-offs, but did reach the final of this year’s Nations Cup under former boss Jose Peseiro, losing to hosts Ivory Coast.
Finidi George was appointed as Peseiro’s replacement in April but failed to lift the team’s performances against South Africa and Benin.
The Super Eagles have failed to win any of their past seven World Cup qualifiers dating back to November 2021 – a time when Gernot Rohr, now coach of Benin, was in charge.