Following their failure to win the maximum points against South Africa in their eighth match of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, it has become clear that the Super Eagles are “determined” to serve their teeming fans another “breakfast.”
The last time the former African champions served the fans this unwanted meal was in 2022 when they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
Right in front of their vociferous fans at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the Super Eagles surrendered the sole group ticket to archrivals, the Black Stars of Ghana, after a 1-1 draw. Nigeria’s neighbours progressed on the then away goal rule.
By the way, what does it mean to serve someone breakfast?
To serve someone “breakfast” literally means to provide them with the first meal of the day after a period of fasting. However, in a popular Nigerian slang context, “to serve someone breakfast” is a metaphorical way of saying that someone has experienced a breakup or heartbreak.
This slang is commonly associated with the younger generation of Nigerians. It is also a social media slang that was popularised by one of the country’s brightest singers, Burna Boy. So, when you serve someone “breakfast,” you are the one who initiated the breakup or heartbreak.
Today, I am using the Gen Zs language to convey the present state of affairs between the Nigerian Super Eagles and their expectant supporters presently going through avoidable heartbreak because their darling team is not looking like it is ready to deliver the precious ticket to the World Cup to be held next summer in North America.
After an impressive performance at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, where the Super Eagles finished as runners-up to the hosts, everybody believed that they would cruise to their seventh World Cup appearance.
Unfortunately, such expectations have not been met as Africa’s most expensive national team is mathematically out of the race for the Group C ticket.
Having played eight matches in the group that has perennial rivals, South Africa, neighbours Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho, the Super Eagles have managed to win only two matches, losing one and drawing five, which has left them with 11 points from a possible 24 points.
Meanwhile, South Africa are leading the table with 17 points, followed by Benin Republic with 13 points while Nigeria sit in third place, where it is practically impossible for them to leapfrog South Africa, unless they win their remaining two matches and the Bafana Bafana lose their two matches and are docked three points by FIFA as it is the wish of most Nigerian football fans.
Unfortunately, the hope that FIFA would deduct three points from South Africa for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to play against Lesotho in March, is gradually fading away as FIFA’s recent tweet on its X handle is too cold for comfort.
For FIFA to tweet that if South Africa win and the Squirrels of Benin fail to beat Zimbabwe, then the former will pick the ticket was an indication that there would be no punishment for the group leaders.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has since dismissed the tweet, saying it wasn’t an official position on Lesotho’s case against South Africa.
While the sole group ticket is not within touching distance of the Super Eagles, their chances of qualifying for the playoff for the best losers in Africa are also very slim.
Most of the second placed teams in the other groups like Gabon, Madagascar, DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia and Uganda have more points and better chances of qualifying for the playoffs after the remaining two matches.
For instance, with their 11 points, even if the Super Eagles win the next two matches, they won’t rise above Gabon, who are already on 19 points as the second placed team in Group E.
So, mathematically, the Super Eagles are doomed, and no amount of permutations and prayers would change this painful situation.
Against this sordid reality, some of us are left to imagine the huge implications of this sporting disaster on the leadership of the NFF, Coach Eric Chelle, Super Eagles players and Nigerian fans, who would have to find another team to support at the next FIFA World Cup.
For the fans, there is a chance for them to choose another team to support, but the NFF and the Super Eagles would face more serious consequences.
The NFF president, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, would be the worst hit by the looming failure as the bulk stops at his table. If the Super Eagles perform a magic, which is most unlikely, to qualify for the World Cup, the Zamfara-born football administrator would take the glory, but if the inevitable happens, he would be exposed to the fate that befell his predecessors who presided over the past failures.
It would be recalled that when the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, Pa Ibrahim Galadima paid the price as he was forced to leave.
His infamous statement that the World Cup ticket wasn’t Nigeria’s birthday is still fresh in our memories. Then came the dismal performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which played a huge role in the untimely removal of Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi as NFF president.
And Mr Amaju Pinnick’s third term bid ambition collapsed after Nigeria failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup.
These past World Cup mishaps didn’t consume only the NFF presidents, some of the star players in the team too were forced into early retirement, leaving them without World Cup football experience.
So, in the event that Nigeria fails to qualify again, Gusau and most of the players who have teamed up to serve Nigerians this “breakfast” should be ready to exit the stage, even against their wishes.
The clouds are gathering, and it will surely rain heavily on those who contributed in one way or another to this imminent football disaster.
Already, a former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has called for the dissolution of the NFF board if Nigeria fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
In addition, not less than two former internationals have indicated interest in Gusau’s position.
In the coming months, more aspirants would surface, especially if Nigeria’s outing at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco is another disaster.
What is certain is that the performance of the Super Eagles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 AFCON in December would leave grievous consequences for all the key actors.
Nigerian football fans neither forget nor forgive those who serve them “breakfast”, especially when they are convinced that such a sporting calamity was avoidable.
By David Ngobua
