Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor performance in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers. He believes the Super Eagles have struggled since he left office due to bad sports management and leadership issues.

During his visit to the Emir of Ilorin in Kwara State, Dalung highlighted that Nigeria last qualified for the World Cup in 2018, while their recent performances have been disappointing. He noted that despite early hopes, the team’s recent draw against Zimbabwe has made their chances of qualifying even slimmer.

Dalung blamed the situation on a lack of commitment to sports administration. He explained that continuous policy changes and leadership instability have weakened Nigerian football.

According to him, the decision to dissolve the Ministry of Sports and transfer its responsibilities to the National Sports Commission has removed the necessary political backing needed to drive success.

He further stated that even the best coach in the world would struggle under the current system. Without strong leadership to inspire players and push policies at the highest level, the Super Eagles may continue to struggle.

Dalung called for urgent reforms, saying Nigeria needs dedicated leadership in sports to restore the country’s football glory.