As Nigeria’s Super Eagles continue to navigate a turbulent 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, concerns are mounting over their misfiring midfield. South African football pundit Mbizo Mzamane has pointed to the heart of the pitch as a major weakness, suggesting that the absence of a natural playmaker is hindering the team’s progress.

Under new manager Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles have adopted a 4-4-2 formation in their recent qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. While Wilfred Ndidi remains in his familiar defensive midfield role, Alex Iwobi has been tasked with unfamiliar defensive duties. Meanwhile, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon have operated as wide midfielders, leaving the team without a creative spark in the center.

Mzamane believes this tactical setup is exposing a critical gap in Nigeria’s midfield. “They do struggle in the midfield. Alex Iwobi is playing in a makeshift role, he’s not a natural central midfielder,” he said during an analysis on Sportsblog247.com.

He further highlighted how the lack of a creative playmaker reminiscent of legends like Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha or John Obi Mikel is hurting the team’s ability to dictate play. “Obviously, Ndidi is quality, but he’s a more defensive player. That Jay-Jay Okocha-esque player or even an Obi Mikel has been missing for quite some time in Nigeria,” Mzamane added.

The analyst warned that without a dynamic, attack-minded midfielder to bridge the gap between defense and attack, the Super Eagles’ struggles may persist. “That player, that key component might be what’s missing personally,” he concluded.

With four matches remaining in Group C, the three-time African champions find themselves in a precarious position. They have secured just one win from six matches and sit fourth in the standings with seven points. Their next test comes in September 2025, when they travel to face group leaders South Africa in a potentially decisive clash.