Former Super Eagles defender, Chikelue Iloenyosi, has criticized the Nigerian senior men’s national football team, citing a lack of passion and character as the core issues behind their poor performances in recent games.

Speaking in an interview with Brila.net, Iloenyosi dismissed suggestions that hiring a foreign coach would solve the team’s problems, asserting that even a world-class manager like José Mourinho would struggle to succeed under the current circumstances.

“Eguavoen has never been part of the problem. Even if you bring in someone like Mourinho to coach Nigeria, the team still lacks character. The boys didn’t position themselves well; there’s no passion or character in the national team,” he said.

The comments come in the wake of Nigeria’s disappointing conclusion to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Despite already securing their place in the tournament, the Super Eagles managed only a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic and suffered a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

The loss to Rwanda marked a historic low for the three-time African champions, ending their perfect home record in the qualifiers and handing the East African side their first-ever victory over Nigeria.

Fans have expressed their frustration, with many calling for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to appoint a foreign coach to guide the team ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, Iloenyosi believes the players themselves must take responsibility for their performances.

“Losing the game is not Eguavoen’s fault. Even if you bring in another coach, they will still lose that game,” he insisted.

With the World Cup qualifiers resuming in March, Nigeria faces an uphill battle. Rwanda currently tops the qualification group with seven points, while Nigeria trails with just three points from four matches.

The Super Eagles must not only address their tactical issues but also rediscover the passion and unity that once made them a dominant force in African football.