As if the disaster of the Super Eagles not to qualify for the 2022 World Cup was not enough, several players with Nigerian heritage have also seen their dream to feature on the biggest stage of world football in Qatar go up in smoke.
Kevin Oghenetega Tamaraebi Bakumo-Abraham better known as Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Eberechi Eze (England) as well as Noni Madueke and Arnaut Danjuma (Holland) will be watching the 2022 World Cup from the television, like the Super Eagles.
Nigerian fans have trolled these players on social media, saying they got what they deserved after they shunned the Super Eagles for their adopted countries.
The NFF pushed for Abraham, Tomori and Eze to choose Nigeria, but they opted to represent The Three Lions of England.
Striker Abraham, 25, and central defender Tomori have since quit Premier League club Chelsea to get their careers back on track in the Italian Serie A.
Last season, Tomori won the Scudetto with AC Milan, while Abraham scored close to 30 goals in all competitions for Roma.
England manager Gareth Southgate said a recent slump of form by Abraham was to blame for his exclusion from Qatar 2022.
The England boss was obviously not impressed with the exploits of these players, who now play outside the Premier League.
Orange of Holland have also given the cold shoulder to Villarreal exiting winger Danjuma and Noni Madueke from PSV Eindhoven when it mattered most.
Lagos-born Danjuma played a handful of official games for the Dutch, but in the end he has missed out on the big party.
But at least there will still be some Nigerian flavor at Qatar 2022 – Bukayo Saka (England), Karim Adeyemi, Jamal Musiala (Germany) as well as Manuel Akanji, Noah Okafor (Switzerland).
Very little consolation for Nigeria.
