Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye backs Nigeria’s quest for 2030 World Cup
Brown Ideye insists that the current generation of players has enough talent to bring Nigeria back to the FIFA World Cup finals. After failing to qualify for this year's tournament, Ideye believes consistency and collective unity will be key for success.
According to Ideye, 'I still believe this team will qualify for the 2030 World Cup. We have talented players, but now is the time for them to show Nigerians how good they really are.' The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 World Cup qualifiers will see a new generation of stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman enter their primes.
Talent vs. Consistency
While the Super Eagles boast some of the strongest squads on the continent, with players currently featured in top European leagues, they could not secure qualification in 2026. Augustine Eguavoen, Technical Director of NFF, acknowledged that their slow start proved costly.
Nigeria needs a strong mentality to succeed, Ideye says. 'The players have to work harder, push one another every day and play with belief. Talent alone is not enough if you don’t have the right mentality.'Coach Eric Chelle will build towards both 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and the next World Cup qualifiers.
Expectations on players
Ideye's comments echo recent remarks by NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen, who admitted that Nigeria’s slow start to the last qualification campaign proved costly and pledged that preparations for the 2030 qualifiers would begin much earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the next World Cup qualifiers kick off?
The 2030 FIFA World Cup Africa qualifiers are expected to start in September 2024. Each team will be vying for one of five berths into the World Cup.
Who's in Nigeria's squad for these qualifiers?
Kingsley Coman, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi are among the key players who will play pivotal roles in qualifying. Others like Calvin Bassey may also feature as needed.