Osaze Odemwingie, a former striker for the Super Eagles, has criticized the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for blaming specific players after a recent match in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The three-time African champions needed to win both of their September matches to maintain their chances. After a close 1-0 win over Rwanda in Uyo, Nigeria settled for a 1-1 draw against South Africa. Following the outcome in Bloemfontein, the NFF explicitly criticized captain William Troost-Ekong and striker Cyriel Dessers in their post-match report. Odemwingie responded, stating on Brila FM, “This shows that unsuitable individuals are in charge at our federation, which is quite unprofessional. These people hold positions without the necessary qualifications. They’re akin to fans—you could assign that role to an average fan, and they might perform just as well as the person currently in that position.”