‘They need to stick to winning’ - Okocha reveals reason the Super Eagles failed to qualify for World Cup

Nigeria's campaign to secure a place at the FIFA World Cup was anything but direct. Instead, it became a drawn-out, turbulent episode that left many feeling frustrated.

The team's failure to secure an automatic World Cup spot has intensified the pressure on head coach Eric Chelle and his players. 

The recent letdown follows their inability to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a significant blow for a nation with a rich footballing heritage and a vast pool of talent.

With AFCON 2025 on the horizon, Okocha insists that the lessons from the failed World Cup bid must be learned.

Okocha has called on the squad to tackle the inconsistency that he believes has proven costly. 

"Nigeria’s run in the World Cup qualifiers was a rollercoaster, but we would have loved to see Nigeria qualify with ease," Okocha stated. 

"We all know football is not an easy game and what I think they should improve on is to be more consistent."

He concluded with a direct message for the squad, emphasising the need for sustained excellence: "They need to stick to winning with top performance in every game."

His comments come at a critical time, as the team grapples with the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.