Nigerians express disappointment over result against Zimbabwe
Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has dismissed the claim by some followers of the team that the national side depends on one player for results.
 
Ekong spoke, even as millions of Nigerian fans are yet to come to grips with the setback caused by the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe, on Tuesday, which has almost ruined the country’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
 
“When the team plays well together, every individual shines even if you talk about the Rwanda game. I think you have to highlight more than Victor Osimhen’s game. I think there is almost every player that you can say plays his role. Players who came off the bench and also helped out in the training session, including players who played out of position like Yusuf (Alhassan),” Ekong said after the match.
 
Insisting that credit should be given to every member of the team for whatever result the Eagles get, Ekong said that different factors dictate players’ performance in a game.
 
“It is not right to say that we rely on only one player because that is not the mentality of the team. We work hard together and we try to make everyone comfortable and when we do that we achieve more as a team,” he said.
 
Following the game at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, some fans criticised the players for not complementing Osimhen’s efforts during the game. They also blamed Coach Eric Chelle for committing two costly errors that denied Nigeria the needed win.
 
They questioned the wisdom of playing Ademola Lookman in midfield instead of his usual attacking role, saying that Lookman’s pace and skill are better utilised on the wings, where he can take on defenders and create scoring opportunities.
 
 They accused Chelle of neutralising Lookman’s effectiveness by playing him in midfield, adding that the coach also committed an error by bringing in Victor Boniface instead of a defender when the Super Eagles needed to defend their lead.
 
To them, such substitutions left Nigeria vulnerable at the back, allowing Zimbabwe to push for an equaliser, which they got. “Introducing a defender would have provided additional cover and helped protect Nigeria’s lead,” one fan queried.
 
Emmanuel Adegunle, who claimed that he has followed the national team for many years, lamented that the Super Eagles failed to capitalise on the opportunity to narrow the gap with South Africa in the race to the World Cup.
 
He said: “Our boys had several chances to score but failed to utilize them. Our defence lacked the strength and ability to hold on in the face of pressure from the opponent. They lost the ball easily and made schoolboy errors, which led to the equaliser for Zimbabwe.
 
“If the Super Eagles fail to qualify for two consecutive World Cups, it will diminish the value of Nigeria’s talented players in the global market.”