Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has predicted that the country's female footballers will win the senior FIFA World Cup before their male counterparts, setting a target within the next eight years.
Odegbami shared his thoughts in a column published by Complete Sports, where he praised the newly crowned Under-17 women's world champions, the Flamingos, for their final victory over Japan. He noted that the federal government had offered lavish rewards to the squad, pointing out that their accomplishment lifted the mood of the nation during a difficult period of political tension.
According to Odegbami, the senior women's team, the Super Falcons, stand to gain the most from the junior side's success. He explained that the senior setup can draft standout players from the squad and learn from the tactical and technical blueprints used during the tournament to prepare for a senior global title.
Turning his attention to men's football, Odegbami expressed reservations about the Super Eagles, who gathered for two matches against Tanzania, including a home fixture scheduled in Uyo. Reviewing the squad list invited by head coach Eric Chelle, Odegbami described the roster as mostly the same regular players with only a few additions, warning supporters not to expect a sudden departure from recent poor showings.
Odegbami also highlighted concerns regarding the health of domestic football as Nigeria prepares to host the 2026 CAF Awards on December 2. While acknowledging nominations for Edo Queens duo Christiana Uzoma and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, alongside a nod for the national women's side, he argued that the country's limited presence on the shortlist proves that Nigeria is no longer developing the continent's top talent as it once did.
