Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat by Niger Republic at the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship has exposed the extent of the country’s football decline, according to Dutch-born coach Simon Kalika.

Speaking exclusively to Completesports.com from his native Holland on Friday morning, Kalika said it was painful to see Nigeria lose the status it once held in world football.

“Nigeria [Golden Eaglets] losing to Niger Republic is very sad news when it comes to football in the country,” he said.

“For me, it is the height of football decline in the country, and it is not about the players but the administration.

“In my opinion, Nigeria is a world-class country when it comes to football. But it hurts that the nation is no longer what it used to be in world football.”

Nigeria have failed to qualify for a number of major international tournaments in recent years, including the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.

The Golden Eaglets are also at risk of missing the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which provides the qualification route to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Kalika calls for changes to football administration

Kalika, who worked as an assistant to Samson Siasia when Nigeria won silver medals at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands and the men’s football event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, said administrative and technical shortcomings were holding the country back.

“The problem is that the administration of the game in Nigeria is not what it should be. The country has world-class players, but there is no technical infrastructure,” he said.

Recalling his time with Siasia, Kalika said the national team had produced several outstanding players, including Obinna Nsofor, Brown Ideye and John Obi Mikel.

“When I was with Siasia in the national team as a coach, we produced great players such as Obinna Nsofor, Brown Ideye and John Obi Mikel. Siasia lost only one game against Argentina in a friendly in Bangladesh,” he said.

“But that is no longer the situation. Nigeria are now losing games to Guinea-Bissau and Niger Republic. That is painful. The federation (NFF) must sit up.

“You must get some former players, such as Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, and others, and let them sit down as a team to look at the best solution to the problem. Nigerian football will flow again,” Kalika concluded.

Golden Eaglets face decisive Cote d’Ivoire match

Nigeria will play Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday, 17 October, at the Stade du 4 Aout in Ouagadougou in their second and final Group B game of the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship.

The match is crucial to the Golden Eaglets’ hopes of reaching the semi-finals as they compete for the group’s second qualification place.

Niger Republic have already secured top spot after taking four points from one win against Nigeria and one draw versus Niger Republic.