“No team fears them,” Coach Bonfrère slams Super Eagles after WC qualifying struggles

• Johannes Bonfrère lamented how Nigeria, despite having top European-based players, now struggles against teams they should comfortably defeat
• The Super Eagles recently stumbled to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe, raising doubts about their automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• The former coach stressed that Nigeria must regain its winning mentality, warning that their struggles against weaker teams could lead to World Cup heartbreak

Former Super Eagles coach Johannes Bonfrère has voiced his deep frustration over Nigeria's failure to secure victory in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Uyo. 

The Dutch tactician, who played an important role in Nigeria’s golden era, expressed disappointment at the team’s inability to dominate opponents they once overcame with ease.

Bonfrère, a key figure in Nigeria’s triumphs during the 1990s, including the 1994 AFCON title and the historic Olympic gold medal in 1996, has been left unimpressed by the current state of the national team. 

Speaking to a top Nigerian news outlet from his home in the Netherlands, he did not hold back in his criticism of the Super Eagles after their frustrating 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on Tuesday, March 25.

The Super Eagles took the lead in the second half through star striker Victor Osimhen, with much hope of a much-needed win. 

However, a late equaliser from Zimbabwe’s Tawanda Chirewa shattered those hopes, leaving the Super Eagles with just one point and significantly denting their chances of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Bonfrère questioned the team's mentality and tactical preparedness, highlighting how Nigeria’s dominance in African football has dwindled, 

“How do you expect to qualify for the World Cup if you don’t win games?” he asked. 

He also reminisced about the past, saying, “In our time, if we didn’t beat Zimbabwe 3-0 or 4-0, the fans would throw stones at us.”

The veteran coach also pointed to Nigeria’s wealth of talent in Europe’s top leagues, making the 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe unacceptable in his eyes, 

“With the huge number of Super Eagles players in top European leagues, a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe is unacceptable. I don’t see how they can qualify for the World Cup, except maybe through the play-offs,” he remarked.

He further criticised the team’s tactical approach, questioning whether the coach had properly analyzed Zimbabwe’s weaknesses or if the players failed to execute the game plan, 

“Was it a loss of concentration? Why couldn’t the attackers score more goals? If they had put away two or three chances, Zimbabwe’s late goal wouldn’t have mattered as much.”

Notably, the former coach lamented that smaller teams no longer fear Nigeria, 

“It’s sad, painful, and unfortunate. Small teams are now looking the Super Eagles in the eye and asking, ‘What can you do?’ No team fears them anymore, and that is worrying.”

Onigbinde urges Super Eagles coach Chelle to harness Nigeria’s talent for World Cup success

Previously, TheRadar reported that former national team coach Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has urged newly appointed Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle to effectively manage the country's vast talent pool as he takes on the challenge of leading the Super Eagles.

Despite this abundance of quality, Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has been disappointing.