South African Analyst Highlights Midfield Woes in Nigeria’s Qualifying Campaign

The Super Eagles’ frustrating 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier has raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s campaign, with South African football pundit Mbizo Mzamane blaming two key players—Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi—for the underwhelming performance.

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, Mzamane dissected Nigeria’s struggles, particularly highlighting the lack of creativity in midfield as a major reason for the disappointing result. He argued that while Ndidi is a solid defensive player, the absence of a true playmaker—like Jay-Jay Okocha or John Obi Mikel—has left the team without a creative spark.

With only four matches left in the qualification campaign, the Super Eagles find themselves fourth in Group C, trailing behind South Africa, Benin Republic, and Lesotho. Their World Cup hopes are now hanging in the balance, and unless the midfield issues are resolved, Nigeria could face the nightmare of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tactical Issues: Was Iwobi Played Out of Position?

One of the biggest talking points from the match was Alex Iwobi’s role in midfield. The Fulham midfielder, who typically thrives in an advanced creative position, was forced into a more defensive role due to the 4-4-2 formation deployed by Eric Chelle.

Nigeria’s lineup featured:
✅ Wilfred Ndidi in his natural defensive midfield role
✅ Alex Iwobi taking on makeshift defensive duties
✅ Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon positioned as wide midfielders

This setup, according to Mzamane, was a recipe for disaster.

“They do struggle in the midfield. Alex Iwobi is playing in a makeshift role; he’s not a natural central midfielder,” Mzamane stated.

“A creative influence in the middle of the park has really been missing.”

Without a natural playmaker to dictate the game, the Super Eagles struggled to break down Zimbabwe’s defense and failed to control possession effectively.

Nigeria’s Longstanding Midfield Problem

For years, Nigeria has been blessed with technically gifted midfielders capable of controlling games—players like:

• Jay-Jay Okocha, known for his flair, vision, and ability to unlock defenses

• John Obi Mikel, who brought composure, leadership, and excellent passing to the midfield

However, in recent years, the Super Eagles have struggled to replace these legends, relying instead on more defensively minded midfielders like Ndidi. While Ndidi remains a top-class defensive midfielder, Mzamane believes he alone cannot carry the creative burden of the team.

“Obviously, Ndidi is quality, but he’s a more defensive player. That Jay-Jay Okocha-esque player or even an Obi Mikel has been missing for quite some time in Nigeria.”

“That player, that key component might be what’s missing personally,” he concluded.

The lack of a natural playmaker means Nigeria often struggles in:

• Breaking down deep defensive teams

• Creating goal-scoring opportunities from midfield

• Controlling the tempo of the game

Unless this issue is addressed, the Super Eagles could find themselves falling short in crucial matches.

Nigeria’s Qualification Hopes in Jeopardy

With just four matches remaining, Nigeria’s path to the World Cup has become significantly more difficult. The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in Group C, trailing behind:

1️⃣ South Africa
2️⃣ Benin Republic
3️⃣ Lesotho

With the top teams pulling ahead, the pressure is now on head coach and the players to fix their tactical issues and start delivering results.

What Needs to Change?

For Nigeria to turn things around, they must:

✔️ Deploy a more balanced midfield setup: Playing a midfielder like Joe Aribo or Frank Onyeka in a more attacking role could help provide more creativity.

✔️ Allow Iwobi to play his natural role: Iwobi excels when he has the freedom to drive forward and create chances rather than being restricted defensively.

✔️ Consider different formations: The 4-4-2 setup hasn’t worked well, and switching to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation could allow for better ball progression and attacking build-up.

✔️ Improve goal-scoring efficiency: The Super Eagles have been wasteful in front of goal, and fixing their finishing could be the key to securing more points.

✔️ Win the remaining matches: Anything less than maximum points in the upcoming games could mean missing out on the 2026 World Cup.

Final Thoughts: Can the Super Eagles Bounce Back?

The Super Eagles are at a crucial crossroads in their World Cup qualification journey. The talent is there, but tactical decisions and midfield weaknesses have held the team back.

With four matches to go, Nigeria must find solutions quickly—or risk watching the 2026 World Cup from home.

Read also: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup: A Deep Dive into the Record-Breaking $1 Billion Prize Structure

Can the team fix their midfield issues in time? Will Iwobi and Ndidi prove the critics wrong? Fans will be eagerly waiting for the answers in the upcoming fixtures.