By Vivian Ahanmisi
Wahid Oshodi, Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund (LSSTF), says African football has reached a higher level after impressive performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Oshodi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that Africa had every reason for pride after nine of its 10 representatives reached the Round of 32.
He said the achievement reflected steady progress, with many African footballers now competing regularly in Europe’s leading leagues alongside the world’s finest players.
“I think it has been a very good tournament for Africa. Our teams have shown African football is coming of age, and it has to.
“Many of our players compete in the best leagues abroad. That experience is showing in the confidence and quality of their performances,” he said.
Oshodi, also president of the International Table Tennis Federation Africa, said African football still had areas requiring significant improvement despite encouraging tournament displays.
He said several teams matched stronger opponents but failed to protect winning positions, ultimately missing opportunities to progress further in the competition.
“We are not closing out matches well enough. We can compete with the best, but we must improve game management and finish matches strongly,” he said.
Oshodi singled out Morocco for special praise, saying the team’s performances confirmed that its remarkable run at the 2022 World Cup was no coincidence.
He said Morocco’s confident displays and consistent results reflected proper planning, effective coaching and a well-structured football development system.
“Some people thought Morocco’s Qatar success was luck. This World Cup proves they are doing the right things.
“They have played with confidence and quality. Proper planning, good coaching and the right football structure produce consistent success,” he said.
Oshodi urged African countries to strengthen football through greater investment in coaching, youth development programmes and sustained support from supporters.
He regretted Nigeria’s failure to qualify, saying Africa’s outstanding performances highlighted how far other nations had progressed without the Super Eagles.
“The sad part is that Nigeria is not there. Even sadder, nobody seems to be asking because other African teams have performed very well.
“That means we must look inwards. The Nigeria Football Federation has plenty of work because other African countries are moving ahead while we are falling behind,” Oshodi said.
He commended the Federal Government and the National Sports Commission for supporting football but insisted investment must deliver measurable success on the pitch.
“There is a lot of money being spent. We must credit the government and President Bola Tinubu, but investment must produce results Nigerians want,” he said.
Oshodi also praised Cape Verde, saying the small island nation’s achievements demonstrated that sound planning could outweigh population size in football development.
“Cape Verde has shown what is possible. Nigeria also has many players abroad, so we should be producing much better results,” he said.
He said the Confederation of African Football should celebrate Africa’s overall achievements while continuing efforts to improve standards across the continent.
Oshodi expressed confidence that Morocco could challenge France successfully in spite of describing the European side as the tournament’s strongest team.
“I hope Morocco continue making Africa proud. France have been the best team, but Morocco have the quality and experience to compete,” Oshodi said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo