By Boluwatife Kehinde
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has come under fire from fans after publicly criticising Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw with South Africa in Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier.
In a post-match statement, NFF Director of Communications Dr Ademola Olajire described Dessers as “a substitute that was substituted,” saying he struggled to impose himself, lost duels, and offered little in attack.
READ ALSO: NFF blasts Dessers, Troost-Ekong after Nigeria’s draw with South Africa
Troost-Ekong was also faulted for his first-half own goal that handed Bafana Bafana the lead and, according to the statement, briefly dampened Nigeria’s spirit.
The comments quickly went viral, sparking backlash on social media, where fans accused the federation of scapegoating players instead of taking responsibility.
On X, a user known as Mr Famous fumed: “Singling out Cyriel Dessers in such harsh terms is disgusting. Football is a team sport, not an avenue for public shaming.”
Rapper Odumodublvck was even harsher, calling the NFF “a terrible organisation” and “a total disgrace,” adding that the officials “are wicked people who have taken away the one thing that gives Nigerians joy.”
Blogger Eagle Tracker echoed the sentiment, saying: “Shame on the NFF’s communication department for throwing our own player under the bus. What happened to winning and losing as a team?”
Freelance journalist Pamela Tayie Ilekhuoba suggested there might be a personal agenda against Dessers, questioning why the striker was singled out so viciously.
In a post made by Brila Fm on Facebook Iyke Izuka compared the federation’s tone to “a father condemning his own child in public,” stressing that such blunt criticism should come from analysts, not administrators.
Others mocked the federation’s behaviour. Olatunde Rich Ajayi wrote: “NFF dey analyse for us like say we no watch the match.” Meanwhile, Temilade Ajidade pointed fingers at politics in football administration: “Politicians don hold NFF position, wetin we expect?”
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Nigeria now have 11 points from eight matches in Group C, six behind leaders South Africa. To keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup alive, the Super Eagles must win their final two games against Lesotho and the Benin Republic while relying on their rivals to slip.
