Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged Nigerians to let go of the pain of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup and channel their energy towards supporting the national team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will kick off her AFCON campaign on December e 23rd , and Adepoju believes the country must rally together to ensure a strong continental outing.
Speaking on the team’s failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup, Adepoju described the situation as heart-breaking but insisted that dwelling on it would serve no purpose.
“It is a very, very sad one. Nobody would have ever thought Nigeria would fail to qualify twice. Very sad, but anyway, we must move forward,” he said. “We don’t have to keep holding on to something that has already gone. We need to learn from it and focus on the future.”
Adepoju expressed confidence that the players have taken valuable lessons from the costly qualifying campaign and will return more determined as the AFCON tournament approaches.
“The players would have learnt from the World Cup exit. I believe that when they come back, they will go out there firing at the AFCON,” he said.
He, however, warned that the competition will be tough, with several African nations also aiming for the title. But despite the challenge, he is optimistic that Nigeria can produce a better performance than in recent outings.
“It’s not going to be easy because other countries also want to win the AFCON. But I believe that if they put everything into it, Nigeria can at least achieve something significant,” he noted. “In the last AFCON, we got to the final and lost. This time, it should be different so that Nigerians will be happy.”
Adepoju stressed that preparation must be “top-notch” and called for total commitment across all levels as the Super Eagles begin their hunt for continental glory later this month.
Former Super Eagles hardworking midfielder Mutiu Adepoju would have quit football-the game that brought him honours and fame even before his career began. But for his father, the three-time World Cup player said he would have given it all up after he was rejected in the national camp for cadet players.
Adepoju, (54) spent most of his career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 175 games and 22 goals over the course of seven seasons and representing mainly Racing de Santander and Real Sociedad.
A Nigeria international for 12 years, Adepoju appeared for the country in three World Cups and as many Africa Cup of Nations.
“I experienced rejection after I thought I had given it my all and decided to quit for other things. I experienced frustration because I was not picked for the Nigeria U-17 team.”
Speaking to a group of teenage players in Lagos, Adepoju, who is one of Nigeria’s leading players that ever laced his boots in Spanish La Liga, while playing for Sociedad-related his story to inspire the youngsters.
“Now, one of my examples that I’m going to give you was when I just started in football. I was in secondary school when I was invited into the Under-17 national team of Nigeria, after representing Oyo state at the National Sports Festival. This was way back in 1985.
“So, I was invited to Lagos and I came from Ibadan. I got to Lagos, I was training and all, doing very well and suddenly I was dropped from the national team from the camp. I felt rejected. I wanted to stop playing football.
“So, I went back home, I went to my dad and told him that I’m no longer going to play football because I’ve done enough and all that. I didn’t know that I’ve not done anything during that period. So, when I told him, I mean it’s so embarrassing because my dad is late now.
“He said: you are not going to sleep at this hour. I was playing for Femo Scorpion then and was supposed to go back to our camp in Eruwa. He said, you are not going to sleep in my house, go back to Eruwa and try again. He compelled me to try again and I’m still thanking him for that wisdom.”
“So, I went back, did my thing and then I started playing and then I got my courage back.
One year later, the coach that dropped me at the Under-17 invited me to the Under-20 at 18 years old, I made that team. That team was the team that went to the Saudi Arabia World Youth Championship. We came second and I was one of the best players.”
Continuing, the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup player said that experience and others were what shaped him to become the man and player he became.
“It is one of the true life experiences that I had and if I had not gone through them, I mean that probably I wouldn’t have been able to attain the level I attain in football. In football you have to be resilient and you have to work very hard. It is very, very important. If you don’t work hard, you can never get anywhere.”
Buttressing his point, he said talent is good but not enough to make it in life and sports.
“Talent is not enough. You have to work hard.
You have to have character too. Good character in the sense of it. Not a bad character. During the African qualifier, I was the highest goal scorer to qualify Nigeria for the World Youth Championship, and I scored three goals in Saudi Arabia in which we were defeated at the final, against Portugal.
“So, that’s the reason why I’m saying your talent is not enough. Hard work will give you success. If you work very hard, you’re going to gain from it. If you work very hard as a player with the skills and everything that you have, definitely, you’re going to get somewhere.”
Adepoju experienced another rejection in Europe-with Real Madrid-one that would have broken him but hard work and resilience pulled him through.
“After Saudi Arabia ’89, I was invited and signed by Real Madrid into their second team. I could only play in the second team because there are other midfielders that they signed in that year and all that. I was playing in the second team.
After I moved to Spain I had not had my medical. When they were satisfied and wanted to sign me I had to do my medical and you know what I failed medical. Whatever it was, I was just 18 and naïve. I didn’t understand it. There was nobody with me- to guide me. No parent, nobody. I was alone and since I failed medical, it means I will not be with the team. “So, the manager took me and said, just calm down. Anyway, he sent me to a hospital and the doctor told me to calm down. For 10 months, I was going to train alone because I couldn’t play with the team.
“After the team had trained I would go there alone to do my own training. Sometimes, in the cold-freezing cold morning, this was in the winter time. While doing this I did not know that the coach of Real Madrid’s second team was watching any time I went to train alone. You know what that means. For a footballer watching his teammates train and then going there to train alone.
“I didn’t know that he was watching. Towards the end of the season, Real Madrid Team B team was going to be relegated. They were going down and the coach asked for me to rejoin them. He asked them to call me. I went to do the medical again and I passed.
“That was how I joined the team and the following season I was the highest goal scorer for the team. That helped the team to come back to the second division. I was also invited to the Nigeria senior national team and that resilience and hard work will take you to the top, not talent.”
The La-Liga Ambassador informed that challenges will always come and they are what differentiate winners from losers.
“Whatever challenges you have along the way, don’t worry about it. Try and get over it. Try and overcome the challenge. Don’t let it break you. Don’t let it demoralize you. Because in every aspect of life there will be challenges. I mean you have to know it from now. So, that I mean you have to get yourself very strong and face whatever challenge you have with good faith and go for it. And the sky’s the limit.”
Mutiu and wife are blessed with four children who play basketball.
Ex-Nigerian midfielder Mutiu Adepoju believes the Super Eagles are among the favourites to win the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, based on their squad depth and quality players.
Gernot Rohr’s men are in Egypt to challenge for a fourth African title, but they must first see off Madagascar, Burundi and Guinea in Group B.
While acknowledging that the Super Eagles will head into the finals in the North African country as contenders for the trophy, he feels pressurising the team to emerge as champions could serve as an obstacle for the three-time African winners.
“Nigeria is always favourite because they are the team to beat and that’s why it’s not surprising when you see teams who play against them come out in full force,” Adepoju told Goal.
“Those who tip the Super Eagles as favourites are not wrong because of the quality of players they parade.
“Nevertheless, I would want us to move step by step and see how we progress in the competition.
“That being said, it will be disappointing if the Super Eagles don’t make it to the final because every Nigerian wants to see them up there.
“However, anything can happen in football because you can play the best game and still lose. Mind you, other teams in Egypt are not there to make up the numbers – they want to win also.
“But our focus is to see the team do very well and play to instructions – not fans mounting pressure on the
Former Super Eagles Midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for renaming the Abuja National Stadium after Moshood Abiola.
Adepoju said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
President Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja announced the change of name of the National Stadium, Abuja to Moshood Abiola National Stadium during his inaugural Democracy Day celebration speech at the Eagle Square.
The ex-international recalled how MKO Abiola, as he was fondly called, supported football in Nigeria, the Super Eagles and all other sports in general.
He said no honour was too much for Abiola who was referred to as the Pillar of Sports in Africa.
“I think it is a good development because Abiola, while he was alive, did a lot for Sports in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“I recall how in Saudi 89 (FIFA U-20 World Cup), despite our loss in the final, Chief Abiola encouraged us and rewarded us with things I cannot forget,” he said.
Adepoju called on other philanthropists and corporate organisations to keep supporting sports as government could not do it alone.
Mutiu Adepoju, ex-Super Eagles player, said on Monday that the senior male national team would put up a better performance better in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament holding in Egypt from June 21 to July 19 than they did in 2014 in South Africa.
Adepoju told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the team is in such good form that it could take on any team in Africa.
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, known as the Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, is scheduled to be the 32nd edition of the competition.
The tournament will be hosted by Egypt from 21 June to 19 July 2019.
He said that Nigeria’s super Eagles was outstanding during the qualifying stage having won some of their matches home and away.
“The team displayed class and superiority in their match against Seychelles and others.
“I hope like every other Nigerian is expecting good results from the team,” Adepoju said.
NAN reports that the tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon. They are also the title holders after winning the previous edition.
On Nov. 30, 2018, Cameroon was stripped of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations [5] due to delays in the delivery of infrastructure, the Boko Haram insurgency and the Anglophone Crisis.
On Jan. 8, Egypt was chosen by the CAF Executive Committee as the host nation of the competition. The tournament has also been moved from the original dates of June 15 –July 13 to June 21– July 19.
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has expressed optimism on the Super Eagles doing very well in the forth coming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt in June.
The ex-international disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, while reacting to the AFCON draws which took place Friday night in Cairo.
NAN reports that the Super Eagles are drawn in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi, a group analysts have described as relatively easy.
Adepoju, however, stressed that the Super Eagles would need to prepare well and play as a team to go far in the competition.
“Yes on paper we have a relatively easy group, but the boys will have to step up their game and play as a team to go far in tournament,
“I am optimistic we can do well at tournament if we put our acts together, ” he said.
The former Real Sociedad of Spain midfielder advised Coach Gernot Rohr to start preparations for the tournament early and ensure only fit and committed players were selected.
Adepoju who was part of the AFCON wining Super Eagles team in 1994 in Tunisia also called on Nigerians to support the team.
NAN reports that the 32nd edition of AFCON with its expanded 24-team format will take place in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has said the Super Eagles has the wherewithal to do well at this year’s African Cup of Nations, which comes up in Egypt in June.
Adepoju, fondly called headmaster during his active days, stated that the Nigerian team has the players that can the country proud in Egypt, adding that internal preparation would be key.
“What I mean by internal preparation is that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should put everything together that will aid the Eagles performance at the AFCON. The players are playing regularly in their clubs in Europe and elsewhere so I am sure they will be ready.
“The FIFA window is also very important because that is the time the players have the opportunity to come together and play friendlies. So, quality friendly games should be arranged to enable Coach Gernot Rohr assess the players. Before preparation for AFCON begins.”
According to Adepoju, who is noted for his flawless performance in midfield said the current also has midfielders who can link up well with the attackers. “We have the likes of Ogenekaro Etebo and Alex Iwobi, who are good on the ball. These players and many others can take on the opposing defenders.
“Our performance at the World Cup where we narrowly missed qualifying for the second round and the way we qualified for the AFCON despite losing the first game to South Africa shows the level we have attained. So, I believe that the next AFCON will be a great one for Nigeria.
He also urge the Eagles to be wary of the threat posed by Egypt, Morocco and Senegal as well as other countries who are also eyeing the trophy. “Well the ultimate is to win the trophy but I am not saying that the championship will be walk in the park for us.
“We have to work hard for it. Other teams are also eyeing the trophy. The likes Egypt and Senegal and Morocco are strong contender. I believe we have to work hard, While the NFF, Rohr and players must play their roles well to archive success,” Adepoju added.
‘Head Master’ Mutiu Adepoju is a World Cup veteran of sort, having been to three finals: 1994, 1998 and 2002. He recounts the memories .
WHAT are your memories of the USA’94 team?
Loads of memories. Our camping together brings back a lot of feelings for me; our eating and gisting together. We were like one big family; then you could have about 10 to 15 players’ together gisting at the same time, you didn’t have to go out of the camp to get fun. We had a very good atmosphere around the team and that really helped us in achieving good results. These are good memories that stay with you for a life time and when we have the opportunity to come together even now, it’s usually an opportunity to discuss about those golden moments of our career with the Super Eagles.
The USA’94 World Cup squad is widely regarded as Nigeria’s best team ever, do you agree with such accolades?
To a large extent, I agree with the accolades for so many reasons because that was the time that laid the foundation for our participation at the FIFA World Cup. It is always difficult to talk about this because I was involved and I think Nigerians have reasons to say that was the best team ever. We were very determined to do the best for the country and I believe we tried our best.
How easy was it for you to make Nigeria’s first squad to the World Cup?
It was not that easy. I was drafted to the Super Eagles after playing at the FIFA Junior World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1989, but I was not a regular in the team until I travelled out to join Real Madrid; actually Real Madrid Castello, which is the Team B. We had a lot of professionals in the team and I was so young then. But it was after a year after signing for Real Madrid that I made my national team debut in August 1990 against Togo at the Surulere National Stadium in Lagos. From then, I never looked back and I was so determined that nothing would stop me from being a regular player in the team. I did so well during the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations and had a very good tournament in Senegal as well as the qualifiers for Tunisia’94 where we won the trophy, since 1980, for Nigeria. Actually, it was during the qualifiers for the USA’94 World Cup that we had players like Sunday Oliseh; Austin Jay Jay Okocha and we had a very competitive midfield that included Thompson Oliha, myself and sometimes we did have Austin Eguavoen in the midfield. It was tough because we had a lot of good, talented players but I made the team because of my determination, dedication and hard work.
How did Coach Clemens Westerhof break the news of your inclusion into the World Cup squad?
We were in Papendal in Holland for camping and the list was called. Of course, I was delighted to be included in the team because I was part of the very set of players that qualified Nigeria for the World Cup; and we were so happy about it. It was a life time achievement because we were the first set to get Nigeria to play at the World Cup. We were all anxious before the announcement but I was already looking forward to being part of the team because I knew I had done my best to make it. I never doubted what I had done or in my ability to make the team. So I was so happy to be part of the team that played for Nigeria for the first time at the World Cup.
Looking back, do you think the Super Eagles could have gone beyond the second round at USA’94?
I think so because we had the game against Italy in our hands but we blew it within the last few minutes; it was really sad. Sad for us and sad for everybody because we had a team that could have gone very far at USA’94 and even maybe beyond the quarter finals. We controlled the game against Italy so well until the crazy moments we lost concentration.
Since USA’94, Nigeria has not gone past the second round at the World Cup, but what is your opinion about the current team going to Russia?
My candid opinion is that we have a very youthful side with a crop of players who are determined to make history for themselves. Sincerely, they can surpass the second round if they have self belief and through hard work.
Some believe that this current Super Eagles lack quality players that can carry the team unlike the 1994 set.
Naturally, there must be leaders in a team and those we had in the USA’94 team were the ones usually referred to as the mafias. Some of us were so young and you had several players who have been around for a while. We had the late Stephen Keshi and Rashid Yekini, Eguavoen, Chidi Nwanu and others. They motivated us with words of encouragement and this really inspired a lot of us. I think we have such players in the current team too because all of them are not of the same age though it’s a very youthful side. There is Mikel, Onazi, Balogun and even Musa in the team and these ones can be leaders when the chips are down. I think they have the strong will to push the rest of the team.
You had the privilege of playing at USA’94, France’98 and Korea/Japan 2002, what can give Nigeria the edge against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Russia?
As I said earlier, they must believe in themselves and work very well. The group is a difficult one and the result of the first game against Croatia will determine a lot of things. Winning the first game would give them much confidence going into the second match while losing is a deficit, which means they must win the next two matches to progress to the next stage.
The Super Eagles are meeting their bogeys side Argentina again in Russia, how can they deal with Messi?
Deal with Messi? I think they just have to live with him because if he’s well motivated he can change the course of a game within split of seconds. He has to be watched closely and this doesn’t mean man-to-man marking but they don’t leave him out of sight. He can be dangerous if they lose concentration. He’s clever and fast and can be dangerous if you don’t pay maximum attention, especially around the box. I think that is the only way they can deal with the situation.
What are your final thoughts about the Super Eagles in Russia?
I want to wish the team all the very best and they must accept the challenge that they are in a tough group. They must be ready to put up everything in all the first three matches and never to underrate Iceland who are coming to the World Cup for the first time.
Argentina ex-international Hernán Jorge Crespo, on Saturday in Lagos said that he was delighted to be in Nigeria for the first time as a guest of the Heineken Group.
Crespo along with Nigeria’s ex-internationals — Taribo West, Augustine Eguavon, Mutiu Adepoju and Samson Siasia — were invited by Heineken for an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.
Crespo attributed the success of his over 18 years football career to respect for others which, he said, was one of the fundamental values of life.
“As a young player, I love the game of football but one fundamental thing I learnt along the way was respect for the game, my team mates and fans of football.
“As I grew older in football, I also learnt that it was very important to respect my opponents as well; indeed, it has been a worthwhile experience for me.
“I am in Nigeria because I want to have the opportunity to meet people, to support my passion and most importantly support Heineken and their vision for the UEFA Champions League,’’ He said.
Crespo said that he would never forget playing against Nigeria’s ex-internationals, especially against hard tackling Taribo West and Celestine Babayaro, who were his team mates at Inter Milan and Chelsea, respectively.
“In my career I met a lot of players I had respect for and I would never forget players like West, Babayaro, Emmanuel Amunike, Daniel Amokachie, Sunday Oliseh and Geoge Finidi.
“However I think the greatest player so far in Nigeria was Austin Okocha,’’ he said.
Similarly, his counterparts from Nigeria, West, Siasia, Eguaveon, Adepoju, eulogised Crespo’s perfection and credibility as a great football legend and appreciated his coming to Nigeria.
With over 300 goals during his career, Crespo was regarded as one of the deadliest striker ever in the history of European and World football.
He played for Argentinian club side River Plate and Italian sides such as Parma, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Genoa and Lazio.
He won the 2005 English Premiership League title with Chelsea FC of England, among other laurels.
While in Nigeria, Crespo watched Heineken-sponsored UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Liverpool with Lagos fans on Saturday.
Ex-Super Eagles’ and Spanish La Liga star, Mutiu Adepoju, has described as commendable, the decision of MultiChoice Nigeria to bring LaLiga giants, Atletico Madrid, to Nigeria for the maiden edition of the GOtv MAX Cup.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Adepoju, who starred for two LaLiga sides, Racing Satander and Real Sociedad, explained that the proposed visit of Atletico will impact positively on Nigerian football.
GOtv MAX Cup, an international friendly tournament, will see topflight LaLiga club, Atletico Madrid play the Super Eagles at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Tuesday, 22 May.
“MultiChoice, SuperSport and GOtv have done well for Nigeria and Nigerian football by bringing Atletico Madrid to Nigeria. It shows they are keen on rewarding subscribers and putting Nigeria on the global football map, and they are also providing an opportunity for our players to be noticed by big European teams. They have supported Nigerian sports through the years and I’m happy they have not relented,” explained Adepoju, who is also the La Liga ambassador in Nigeria.
He explained that LaLiga has had a very rewarding partnership with MultiChoice, adding that the proposed visit of the Spanish giants is a testament to the pulling power of MultiChoice, which he described as the continent’s leader in providing sporting content.
Adepoju popularly referred to as “headmaster” due to his ball heading prowess while playing for the Nigerian team, urged Super Eagles players selected for the match to perform well for the world to see. He added that the match also offers further an opportunity for the Super Eagles to prepare for the World Cup starting next month in Russia.
