FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger thinks that the Super Eagles have remarkable potential to become a powerhouse in football. However, they have not yet reached the heights they are capable of achieving.
Nigeria will host Sao Tome and Principe in their last Africa Cup of Nations Group A match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday. They have won the AFCON three times throughout the history of the competition, despite reaching the finals on seven occasions.
Nigeria’s men’s football team won gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Despite their successes on the world stage, Wenger believes the Super Eagles have not fulfilled their potential due to their abundance of talent.
“Nigeria has incredible talent but they are the great underachievers of world football,” Wenger was quoted as saying.
The Frenchman is one of the most successful managers in English football history, with a record seven FA Cups, and two Manager of the Year awards.
Nonetheless, the influence of Wenger on Nigerian players extends well beyond the field, as stated by his former player, Nwankwo Kanu.
“Wenger is not just a football coach,” Kanu, who helped Wenger win two league titles, said.
“He’s a man who knows we are all human beings before footballers. And that’s why he was able to affect the lives of so many people positively.
Wenger paid Inter Milan £4.5m for Kanu, setting a new English transfer record for an African player.
At 73 years old, he also played a pivotal role in Alex Iwobi’s career by giving him his debut at Arsenal. This significant moment took place in a Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium.