Çaykur Rizespor midfielder Okechukwu Azubuike has revealed two major areas of improvement for the Super Eagles as the team bids to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria might be struggling to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Okechukwu Azubuike believes the
squad can still
regain control if they improve in two key areas, Soccernet.ng reports. After failing to win any of their first four
contests, the Super Eagles currently sit in fifth place in their six-team qualifying
section, boasting only three points. Rwanda, Benin Republic, and South Africa have seven points
each and even Lesotho, with five points, fare better than Nigeria. The former African champions failed to impress against South Africa and Benin in the World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. The Bafana Bafana looked sharper and more organized than Nigeria as they picked up a 1-1 draw with Nigeria in Uyo on June 7. Three days later, Benin showed more heart and better quality in the attacking third than the Super Eagles to record an excellent 2-1 win in Abidjan. It was the Cheetahs’ first-ever triumph over the Nigerian senior national
unit. Azubuike, who watched those two
games, saw a Super Eagles
outfit that was found wanting in two areas of the pitch. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder noted that the Super Eagles did not keep the ball well and failed to
sprint as much as their opponents. Azubuike believes the three-time AFCON winners can
reverse their World Cup qualifying fortunes around if they correct these weaknesses. “We are one of the best
clubs in Africa, but right now, names don’t play football. I think we need to
sprint more,” Azubuike told Afrik-Foot. “I saw the last two
games; I think we need to
sprint more as a
crew and play better football. For a very long time, we have not seen the Super Eagles play the type of football we are used to. “If we can keep the ball more and
sprint more than the opponent, then I believe we are going to scale through. “Like I said, names do not play football anymore; there are no small
clubs, no underdogs. So hopefully, if we
sprint better, we will make it out of the
group and qualify for the World Cup.” Azubuike, who did not play a
match for Rizespor last season due to injury, has only one cap for the Super Eagles. He featured in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in 2016 as a second-half substitute.
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