Dalung: Super Eagles Haven’t Qualified for World Cup Since My Exit
Ex-Sports Minister Boasts of 2018 World Cup Feat, Challenges Critics
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has claimed that Nigeria’s Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup since his exit from office in 2019.
Dalung, who served between 2015 and 2019, made the remarks in an interview with Trust TV, insisting that his tenure left behind records that remain unmatched.
He pointed to Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as evidence of his performance, stressing that it was achieved under his watch without the elaborate structures and heavy budgets that had been used in the past.
‘I left records in the Ministry of Youth and Sports that nobody has been able to beat. Since I left, Nigeria has never qualified for the World Cup,’ Dalung said.
He added that while previous administrations relied on a presidential task force with a budget of ₦10 billion, he oversaw qualification ‘single-handedly’ with a match to spare.
Nigeria missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and will not feature at the 2026 edition in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Dalung argued that these failures underscore the strength of his record, challenging critics who described his tenure as unsuccessful.
‘So, before you say Solomon Dalung performed woefully, what happened that since he left that place Nigeria has not qualified?’ he asked.
