Dutch-born football coach Simon Kalika has labelled Nigeria's 2-1 defeat to Niger Republic at the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, as the clearest sign yet of the country's steep decline in football.

Speaking exclusively to Completesports.com from the Netherlands on Friday, Kalika said the result was both painful and telling.

"Nigeria losing to Niger Republic is very sad news when it comes to football in the country," Kalika said. "For me, it is the height of football decline in the country, and it is not about the players but the administration."

"In my opinion, Nigeria is a world-class country when it comes to football. But it hurts that the nation is no longer what it used to be in world football."

A record of missed opportunities

Nigeria's recent years have been marked by a string of absent campaigns at major tournaments — missing the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.

Now the Golden Eaglets risk missing the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, which serves as the primary qualification route to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Administration, not talent, at fault

Kalika, who served as assistant to Samson Siasia when Nigeria claimed silver at both the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands and the men's football event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, was unequivocal about where the blame lies.

"The problem is that the administration of the game in Nigeria is not what it should be. The country has world-class players, but there is no technical infrastructure," he said.

He pointed to a golden era under Siasia's leadership: "When I was with Siasia in the national team as a coach, we produced great players such as Obinna Nsofor, Brown Ideye, and John Obi Mikel. Siasia lost only one game — against Argentina in a friendly in Bangladesh."

"But that is no longer the situation. Nigeria are now losing games to Guinea-Bissau and Niger Republic. That is painful. The federation must sit up."

Kalika called on the Nigeria Football Federation to bring experienced former players into a structured think-tank. "You must get some former players, such as Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, and others, and let them sit down as a team to look at the best solution to the problem. Nigerian football will flow again," he said.

Must-win clash against Côte d'Ivoire looms

The Golden Eaglets must beat Côte d'Ivoire on Saturday, 17 October, at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the 2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship. Niger Republic have already secured top spot in Group B with four points from one win and one draw.