Nigeria’s disappointing start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign has raised serious questions about the direction of the Super Eagles and the future of several established internationals.
The Super Eagles opened their Group L campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar in Uyo, but their struggles became even more evident in the next fixture, when Eric Chelle’s side suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau on September 29.
Franculino Djú, Mama Baldé and Álvaro Djaló scored as Nigeria endured a damaging night in Bissau, with the team struggling to match the hosts’ intensity and failing to find a response after falling behind.
For a country that has missed consecutive FIFA World Cups and has not won the AFCON since 2013, the performance was another reminder that the Super Eagles need more than individual talent and reputation to compete at the highest level.
Chelle must address the team’s tactical shortcomings, but the players must also be held accountable. Nigeria need greater consistency, stronger competition for places and a clear plan to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours.
A rebuilding process will require difficult decisions, including moving on from established internationals who have had opportunities to prove themselves but have not consistently delivered the required performances.
Footy-Africa looks at five players that should no longer be regular selections for the Super Eagles, with their places opened up to alternatives who can provide the quality, energy and reliability the team needs.
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Wilfred Ndidi — Captain
Wilfred Ndidi has been an important servant of Nigerian football, but his status as captain and an established midfielder should no longer guarantee him a starting place.
Against Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria struggled to control the midfield and impose their authority on the match. The team lacked the mobility, urgency and balance required to disrupt the opposition, raising questions about whether the current midfield setup remains suitable for the demands of international football.
Ndidi’s experience and defensive qualities deserve recognition, but Nigeria must look beyond reputation as they begin rebuilding the squad. The Super Eagles need a midfield capable of winning duels, progressing possession and moving the ball effectively under pressure.
Raphael Onyedika should be given the opportunity to replace Ndidi as Nigeria’s first-choice defensive midfielder.
The Club Brugge midfielder offers an alternative the coaching staff should seriously consider as they seek a fresh dynamic in the middle of the park. Rather than continuing to rely on Ndidi as an automatic starter, Chelle should give Onyedika a sustained opportunity to establish himself and demonstrate what he can offer the team.
Onyedika was introduced during the second half against Guinea-Bissau, but a brief appearance in a match Nigeria were already losing heavily is not enough to assess his potential contribution fully. He deserves a more meaningful opportunity to compete for the position.
Ndidi should no longer be starting games by default. Nigeria should begin transitioning the role to Onyedika and allow the younger midfielder to build an understanding with the other players in the team.
The change would signal that the Super Eagles are serious about refreshing their midfield and selecting players according to current needs rather than past achievements.
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Moses Simon — Winger
Moses Simon has reached a significant milestone in his international career, making his 100th appearance for Nigeria in the 2-1 victory over Madagascar. After a decade with the Super Eagles, he has experienced several tournaments, qualifying campaigns and changes of management.
However, reaching a century of appearances should also prompt a question about what comes next.
Simon has provided pace, direct running and experience over the years, but I believe Nigeria have reached a point where they need to look beyond him as a regular option in the squad.
After 100 appearances and ten years in the national team, there is little left for Simon to give the Super Eagles in terms of what the current team needs from its wide players.
Nigeria need wingers who can consistently trouble defenders, create clear-cut chances, contribute goals and offer a fresh attacking dimension. The team cannot afford to keep selecting players simply because they have been familiar faces for years.
Simon came on at half-time against Guinea-Bissau, but Nigeria remained unable to turn the match around. That failure was collective, and it would be unfair to hold one substitute responsible for the result. Nevertheless, the performance reinforced the need to reassess the team’s attacking options.
This is not an attempt to erase Simon’s contributions or diminish the achievement of reaching 100 caps. His service to Nigeria deserves recognition. But international football is about what a player can contribute now, not simply what he has done in the past.
Simon should no longer be a regular selection. Nigeria should move on from him as an established option and use the opportunity to develop a new generation of wide attackers.
A rebuilding process means accepting that even experienced players who have served the country for years can reach a point where a change is necessary.
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Bruno Onyemaechi — Left-back
Bruno Onyemaechi has not delivered the consistent performances Nigeria need since replacing Zaidu Sanusi as the first-choice left-back.
The position requires defensive concentration, sound positioning, recovery pace, and the ability to support attacks without leaving dangerous spaces behind. Nigeria need a player who can provide those qualities reliably, particularly as the team attempts to address its defensive problems.
The 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau exposed weaknesses across the team, and the defensive unit must take its share of the scrutiny. Onyemaechi should not be singled out as the sole cause of the defeat, but his place in the squad must be assessed on performance rather than familiarity.
The Super Eagles cannot continue overlooking inconsistency in important defensive positions. A player who has been given the opportunity to establish himself as first choice must demonstrate that he can maintain a dependable standard from one match to the next.
Sanusi should not automatically regain the position simply because he previously held it. The coaching staff must assess all available options and select the player who offers the greatest consistency, fitness and tactical suitability.
Nigeria also need to consider how their full-backs contribute to the overall defensive structure. Their positioning, communication with the centre-backs and coordination with the midfield are essential to preventing opponents from exploiting spaces.
Onyemaechi should no longer be a regular selection unless his performances improve sufficiently to justify that status. Nigeria must explore alternatives and ensure the left-back position is occupied by someone capable of delivering consistently.
The objective should not simply be to replace one familiar name with another. It should be to find a dependable performer who can help bring stability to a defence that has struggled to keep opponents out.
Bright Osayi-Samuel — Right-back
Bright Osayi-Samuel‘s situation is particularly important because he is expected to provide cover for Ola Aina, Nigeria’s first-choice right-back.
Aina’s fitness problems make dependable cover essential. When a first-choice player is unavailable, his replacement must be capable of stepping into the team without causing a significant drop in quality.
Osayi-Samuel has not convinced me that he can consistently fill that role to the standard Nigeria require. The Super Eagles need a right-back who can defend with discipline, make sound decisions under pressure and support attacks without compromising the team’s defensive shape.
The problem is not simply whether Osayi-Samuel can play at international level. It is whether Nigeria can confidently rely on him when Aina is unavailable, particularly during important qualifying matches and major tournaments.
Aina’s fitness situation makes the need for a credible alternative even more urgent. Nigeria cannot build a dependable squad around the assumption that their first-choice right-back will always be available.
Rather than continuing to treat Osayi-Samuel as the automatic deputy, Chelle should widen the search for alternatives and give other right-backs opportunities to demonstrate that they can handle the responsibility.
The competition should be based on performance, tactical suitability and consistency. Whoever is selected must be capable of defending effectively against quality opposition while contributing to the team’s attacking play.
For me, Osayi-Samuel should no longer be a guaranteed selection. Nigeria must identify a more dependable alternative who can replace Aina comfortably and ensure that an injury to the first choice does not become a major weakness.
Depth is not just about having another player in the squad. It is about having someone the coach can trust to perform when called upon.
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Semi Ajayi — Centre-back
Semi Ajayi is another established international whose place in the Super Eagles squad should be reconsidered as Nigeria seek to rebuild their defence.
Nigeria have young centre-backs who deserve opportunities to compete for a place alongside Calvin Bassey, who has established himself as a leading option in the heart of the defence.
The Super Eagles need a dependable partnership at centre-back, built on communication, concentration, recovery ability and sound decision-making. Repeated defensive problems suggest that the coaching staff must assess whether the current options offer the consistency required.
Ajayi brings experience, but that should not prevent younger players from being given a chance to establish themselves. Nigeria need to look beyond familiar names and identify defenders who can form part of the team’s long-term plans.
One player worth serious consideration is Chibuike Nwaiwu, the young Nigerian defender playing for Trabzonspor in Turkey. His age, physical attributes, and potential make him an option the national team should assess as it looks to refresh its defence.
The Super Eagles need to create a pathway for younger defenders rather than continue relying on established internationals without adequately testing the alternatives available to them.
Bassey can provide an established reference point in the centre of defence while Chelle evaluates who is best suited to partner him. That assessment should include Nwaiwu and other promising centre-backs who can compete for the position.
In my view, Ajayi should no longer be a regular selection, and Nigeria should use upcoming fixtures to evaluate younger alternatives. The objective must be to build a centre-back partnership capable of delivering consistency over the long term.
Nigeria cannot keep conceding goals and expect the defensive unit to remain unchanged indefinitely. Competition is necessary, and players must demonstrate that they deserve to remain part of the project.
