Richard Idike, the Ebonyi commissioner for youth development and sports, along with fans, has advised the Super Eagles against complacency as they approach their World Cup play-offs in November.

The respondents, who spoke to journalists on Wednesday in Abakaliki, said the players should not feel overconfident about a World Cup spot due to their impressive defeat of the Benin Republic.

The Eagles secured a play-off spot for the mundial by beating the Benin Republic 4-0 on Tuesday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Mr Idike said the players should stay focused and realise that their opponents at the play-offs equally want to be at the World Cup.

“Nigerians are saying that the team could not have been in this precarious situation if it had approached all its qualifiers as the Benin Republic match. They approached the match as if their lives depended on it, and this approach should be sustained at the play-offs.

“The Nigeria Football Federation should do everything possible to ensure we emerge victorious at the play-offs due to the concerns the Benin Republic match generated,” he said.

Ikenna Odo, a member of the Ebonyi Football Association, urged the Eagles to avoid mistakes that cost them an automatic qualification spot.

“The play-off qualification is a huge relief, but we have to face the reality that the road is still filled with thorns. We still have other countries to contend with at the FIFA play-offs in March 2026, even if we win the African play-offs,” he said.

Barry Obiekwe, a transporter and football enthusiast, said the NFF by now must have understood Nigeria’s feelings towards missing a successive World Cup.

“You can see reactions across the country, even from President Bola Tinubu, on the importance attached to the World Cup qualification. The federation inconceivably used four coaches to prosecute 10 qualifiers, and such technical inconsistency destabilised the team,” he said.

Ogechukwu Onuoha, a teacher and football enthusiast, urged Nigerians to pray for the team to perform at its best in future matches.

“You could have imagined the mood in the country had we not qualified for the play-offs. The onus lies on the players to be fit, focused, and committed to prevent the heartbreak of another World Cup miss,” Ms Onuoha said.

(NAN)