Popular football journalist Sulaiman Adebayo, better known as Pooja, has offered a blunt assessment of Nigerian football, insisting the country still has a long way to go before it can be compared with the world’s leading football nations.
Speaking on the FIFA World Cup Roundup Show, Pooja argued that Nigeria is currently unprepared to host FIFA World Cup matches, citing poor sporting infrastructure, underutilized stadiums and the Super Eagles’ inconsistent performances as major concerns.
According to him, none of Nigeria’s existing stadiums meets the standards required to stage matches at the world’s biggest football tournament.
“Infrastructure-wise, I think we have a long way to go. I don’t think there’s any stadium in Nigeria that can host the World Cup. Even Uyo cannot. The facilities in Uyo are like 20% of what you have in Atlanta Stadium or the New Jersey Stadium.”
The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest football venues. It has hosted several high-profile Super Eagles fixtures over the years. However, Pooja believes even that facility falls significantly short of the level expected for a FIFA World Cup.
Beyond infrastructure, the sports analyst questioned whether investing in additional stadiums should be a priority, given that many existing facilities struggle to attract fans to domestic matches.
He argued that Nigerian football’s biggest challenge isn’t just the number of stadiums available but the lack of consistent support for the local game.
“We don’t even watch matches in Nigeria. There’s no fan base. It’s a waste of resources. Look at Uyo; apart from Super Eagles games, the stadium is not used to its full capacity.”
Pooja also turned his attention to the Super Eagles, suggesting the national team has not lived up to many supporters’ expectations despite boasting several talented players.
He pointed to Nigeria’s performances against teams including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Morocco as evidence that the three-time African champions are still struggling to consistently dominate opponents, as they are often expected to do.
Comparing Nigeria’s football ecosystem with those of countries currently setting the pace globally, Pooja said the gap extends far beyond on-pitch results.
“The level of football being played at this World Cup is out of this world. Infrastructure-wise, we are not even 10% close to countries like the USA or Morocco.”
His comments come as Morocco continues to receive global recognition for its investment in football infrastructure following its historic run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals.
The North African nation is also preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with significant upgrades to stadiums and sporting facilities already underway.
Pooja also weighed in on the quality of Nigeria’s current playing squad, singling out just two Super Eagles stars he believes would comfortably command starting spots in any of Africa’s elite national teams.
“Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are the only Nigerian players capable of walking into the starting XI of any top African national team.”
His remarks have since sparked debate among football fans, with some agreeing that Nigeria must improve both its infrastructure and domestic football culture. In contrast, others argue the country still possesses enough talent to compete with Africa’s best despite its shortcomings.
For Pooja, however, Nigeria’s rich football history and passionate fan base are no longer enough. He believes meaningful progress will require sustained investment in infrastructure, stronger support for domestic football and improved performances from the national team before the country can realistically compare itself with the world’s football powerhouses.
