Odegbami Cheers New Super Eagles Talent

Former Super Eagles captain Segun Odegbami says he is really excited about the new generation of Nigerian footballers being put together by head coach Eric Chelle. He believes that the Super Eagles would have been one of the strongest teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup if they had qualified.

In his column, Odegbami was clear about what Nigeria lost.

“I am missing Nigeria at the ongoing World Cup,” he wrote.

“If Nigeria had managed, somehow, to qualify and to be participating, the Super Eagles, under Eric Chelle, and with the increasing number of gifted Nigerian players caught in Eric’s scouting web around Europe these past few months, would have been one of the teams to beat in this World Cup.”

His view is backed by facts. Seven of Africa’s ten teams at the 2026 World Cup have already made it to the Round of 32. Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, and South Africa are all confirmed at the time of this report. South Africa and DR Congo, the two teams that knocked Nigeria out during qualification, have done well in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making Nigeria’s absence even harder for fans to accept.

Despite the disappointment, Odegbami focused more on what is being built rather than what was lost. He is enthusiastic about the new players Chelle has brought into the national team since he took over in March 2025.

Players like Tochukwu Nnadi, Arthur Okonkwo, Femi Azeez, and Abdullahi Bewene have all received chances in Chelle’s larger squad. The coach’s scouting efforts across Europe have continued to find new talent.

“I am truly excited about the emerging new Eagles after the World Cup,” Odegbami wrote. “Their prospects in Africa and in the world in the next decade are very high and promise great excitement and success.”

With established stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Calvin Bassey already in the squad and a promising new generation forming around them, Odegbami believes Nigeria could soon have the strength to compete with the best teams in world football.