It's embarrassing — Onazi laments Rwanda loss, implores Super Eagles to qualify for World Cup

Ogenyi Onazi played for the Super Eagles

It's embarrassing — Onazi laments Rwanda loss, implores Super Eagles to qualify for World Cup

Faruq Ibrahim 23:40 - 18.01.2025

Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi backed the current squad to qualify for the World Cup.

Ogenyi Onazi has implored the current crop of Super Eagles stars to turn Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers situation around, as it would be embarrassing for the team to miss consecutive tournaments. 

CAF World Cup qualifiers: As it stands for Nigeria

The Super Eagles have had an abysmal run in World Cup qualifying, which leaves them languishing at 5th in a group of six. 

Nigeria started their campaign with two disappointing draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. In the subsequent qualifying interval, they drew against South Africa and suffered a shocking defeat to Benin Republic. 

Qualification is still salvageable for the Super Eagles, but they have to clinch victories in March’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. 

Ogenyi Onazi, 2013 AFCON winner || Imago

What Onazi said

The 32-year-old midfielder who went to two World Cups for Nigeria (2014, 2018) believes the current team have what it takes to turn their situation around but demands more commitment from them. 

“We have an amazing team, a world-class team. We just need to put ourselves in order and respect the badge,” Onazi told Brila. 

While they qualified for AFCON, the Super Eagles lost to Rwanda in the qualifiers. Ahead of another match against the Amavubi, Onazi said: 

“It’s embarrassing for us not to beat Rwanda. Of course, anything can happen in football, but there are some things that are not acceptable. I wish them all the best; they are amazing.”

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