‘Draw with Zimbabwe is unacceptable’ - Ex-Nigerian foreign coach slams Super Eagles performance against Warriors

The Super Eagles of Nigeria face a difficult task in qualifying for the World Cup after their 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe on Tuesday.

The team's struggles in Uyo have led Bonfrère to criticise the current squad despite the number of players playing in Europe.

Nigerian football has experienced a decline, with the Super Eagles reaching the AFCON final last year but likely missing consecutive World Cups.

The Dutchman, speaking from his home in the Netherlands to Complete Sports, expressed his disappointment at Nigeria's inability to easily defeat a team they once dominated.

He said, “How do you expect to qualify for the World Cup if you don’t win games?” Bonfrère asked pointedly. In the past, if we didn’t beat Zimbabwe 3-0 or 4-0, the fans would throw stones at us.

“With the huge number of Super Eagles players in top European leagues, a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe is unacceptable. I don’t see how they can qualify for the World Cup, except maybe through the playoffs.

“If that happens, good. But it’s embarrassing that the Super Eagles are struggling against teams they should be beating convincingly.”

Nigeria now holds the fourth position in Group C with seven points, following behind South Africa with 13 points and both Rwanda and Benin with 8 points each, as a result of the draw.

The Super Eagles' World Cup hopes are fading as automatic qualification becomes less likely as they now face a challenging fight to secure their spot.