Former Super Eagles coach James Peters has launched a stinging attack on the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation over the country’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Peters, popularly known as JP, insisted Nigeria’s absence from the global tournament was entirely avoidable, blaming what he described as poor decisions made during the qualification campaign.
“The failure was man-made,” Peters said.
The former national team coach argued that Nigeria’s World Cup hopes were damaged by the appointment of coaches he believes were not qualified for the job.
“We toyed with our chances by giving the job to people who were not qualified,” he added.
Peters, however, reserved praise for current Super Eagles boss Eric Chelle, describing the Franco-Malian as one of the best coaches Nigeria has appointed in recent years.
According to him, Chelle should have been brought in much earlier, suggesting the outcome of the qualification campaign could have been different.
“Eric Chelle is one of the best coaches we’ve hired, but he came too late,” Peters stated.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a disappointing campaign that has continued to generate criticism from former players and coaches.
Peters’ comments add to the growing debate surrounding the decisions taken by the NFF during the qualification process and the future direction of Nigerian football.
