Former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung blames Nigeria’s struggles in the World Cup qualifiers on poor leadership and inconsistent policies. He argues that since his tenure, the Super Eagles have failed to qualify, citing weak administration and the absence of political will as key issues hindering the team’s success.
Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has criticized the state of Nigerian football, stating that the Super Eagles' struggles in World Cup qualifiers stem from poor leadership and inconsistent policies.
Speaking during a visit to the Emir of Ilorin in Kwara State, Dalung expressed frustration over the team’s inability to qualify for the World Cup since 2018, when he was in office. He noted that despite initial optimism in the current campaign, recent setbacks—particularly the defeat to Zimbabwe—have dampened hopes of securing a spot at the next tournament.
Dalung attributed these failures to a lack of strong leadership in sports administration. He argued that the dissolution of the Ministry of Sports weakened the strategic direction needed to support football development. He also emphasized that without political backing, even a world-class coach would struggle to achieve success with the team.
“The biggest problem in Nigerian sports is the absence of committed leadership. There needs to be a clear vision for sports development, but frequent policy changes and leadership instability have hindered progress,” he stated.
He urged the government to prioritize sports administration, restore a dedicated ministry, and establish long-term policies that would provide stability for Nigerian football. According to Dalung, without these measures, the Super Eagles will continue to struggle on the global stage.
