Former Nigerian goalkeeper Peterside Idah expressed concern that the Super Eagles players might not know the words to the new national anthem, which was reintroduced by the federal government on May 29. Idah’s concern sparked a debate on Facebook, with many respondents advising the players to simply mime the anthem instead of trying to sing it.
Former Nigerian forward Dimeji Lawal was among the first to suggest that the players mime the anthem, pointing out that they won’t be holding the microphone and can simply lip-sync along. John Atoyebi agreed, saying that even some England players do the same to calm their nerves before a big game.
Some respondents were more critical of the federal government’s decision to reintroduce the old anthem, with Olajide Flora saying that the players shouldn’t be blamed if they don’t know the words. Jarias Leonard and Njoju Nnadozie echoed this sentiment, with Nnadozie saying that the players will likely remain silent while the anthem is played.
The Super Eagles will face South Africa in a CAF World Cup qualifying tie on June 7, and the team will be looking to revive their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes. The players’ ability to sing the national anthem is just one of many challenges they face, as they trail Rwanda and South Africa in their qualifying group.
Despite the controversy surrounding the national anthem, the Super Eagles are focused on their upcoming matches, including a fixture against Benin Republic in Abidjan on June 11. With two points from their first two games, Nigeria is third in Group A and needs to win both matches to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
