2026 World Cup (Q): Aiyegbeni reveals why Nigeria struggles to score goals

Former Nigeria international Yakubu Aiyegbeni has come out to speak frankly on why the Super Eagles are struggling to score goals in their 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.

The Super Eagles, who are pooled in Group C have only managed to score nine goals from eight matches, a stark difference from leading South Africa, who have found the back of the net 14 times and second-placed Benin, who have scored 11 goals.

According to Aiyegbeni, who remains the fourth highest scorer in the history of the Nigeria national football team, and represented them at four African Cup of Nations finals, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 Summer Olympics, the team under Malian coach Eric Chille is struggling because of lacking a creative midfielder.

“When we look at the team, we have too many defensive midfielders,” Aiyegbeni told Sunday Oliseh as a guest on a podcast on YouTube as quoted by CompleteSports. “We don’t have a creative midfielder. If I play in this team, I’ll struggle to score goals. I’m telling you because when you look at Osimhen when he plays, he’s fighting because he knows already.

“We don’t have a midfielder who can pass the ball. We always pass the ball sideways. We cannot string six passes or seven passes. When we pass the ball a bit, then we kick it long. We cannot build a team like this.”

NFF should not blame Troost-Ekong for draw

Meanwhile, Aiyegbeni called on Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to put blame on captain William Troost-Ekong, especially after he scored an own goal in the team’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in their matchday eight contest.

“We’re talking about me missing a goal. Now everyone is talking about the captain, Ekong. “He scored an own goal. So what? He didn’t mean to score that own goal. It happens. We Nigerians, we have to understand. We are always waiting to put blame on one or two players. Oh, it’s because of this guy we did not qualify for the World Cup. But that’s not the case.

He concluded: “This boy, Ekong, is a leader in that team. He made mistakes, yes. South Africa passed the ball better than us. We cannot even put six or seven passes together. When we try to play, we just end up kicking it long.”

Nigeria, who currently sit third with 11 points, will return to World Cup qualifying action against Lesotho, who are placed fifth with six points, on October 6.