{
  "id": 9311110,
  "title": "Nigerian football enduring 'worst time in history' - Odegbami",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/nigerian-football-enduring-worst-time-in-history-odegbami-9311110",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-23T10:10:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nigerian-football-enduring-worst-time-101010632.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria's national football teams, the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons, have both failed to qualify for the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, respectively. The country's football journey has hit unprecedented lows, according to former international Segun Odegbami, who won the 1980 Afcon. Odegbami, 74, says this is the worst period in Nigeria's football history. He expressed dismay at the neglect of junior teams and local leagues, which are failing to bring in revenues. The crisis has compelled major changes within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with its top officials resigning. Odegbami calls for a restructuring of Nigeria's football administration for long-term development. The country's football infrastructure has been decaying, and top-class stadiums have fallen into disrepair.",
  "summary": "Former Afcon winner Segun Odegbami has slammed those running Nigerian football after the country missed out on the men's and women's World Cups.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nigeria's national teams failed to qualify for World Cups.",
    "Former player Segun Odegbami calls it the worst period in Nigeria's football history.",
    "Odegbami demands restructuring of Nigeria Football Federation."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Nigerian football enduring 'worst time in history' - Odegbami",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/nigerian-football-enduring-worst-time-in-history-odegbami",
        "published": "2026-09-23T10:00:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}