World Cup
Soname Calls For African Football Rethink After Mixed World Cup Fortunes
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, NEW YORK
As the curtain continues to fall on the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout rounds, Nigerian football entrepreneur and sports investor Kunle Soname has urged African football administrators to look beyond the continent’s impressive participation statistics and address the recurring shortcomings that continue to deny African teams deeper success on football’s biggest stage.
Speaking in a transatlantic telephone interview with Sports Village Square, Soname reflected on what he described as a largely positive but ultimately incomplete campaign for Africa at the expanded 48-team World Cup.
“African teams have done very well, especially in the first phase of the expanded World Cup,” Soname observed. “If you consider that nine of the ten African representatives progressed from the group stage into the knockout phase, that represents a 90 per cent success rate. It is the highest achieved by any confederation.”
Yet, for the businessman whose football interests span clubs, academies and aviation, the story of Africa’s World Cup journey cannot be measured by qualification statistics alone.
“The second round presented a mixed bag,” he said. “The sad part is not just the crashing out of teams, but the manner of their exits.”
According to Soname, Africa’s recurring challenge lies not in talent or preparation but in what he calls “end-game management” — the ability to navigate decisive moments when matches, and sometimes history, are on the line.
“It shows that as a continent, we have to take a look at how we manage our teams and initial successes. We lack the cutting edge that should come into play when we get to the end-game situations. Sadly, this has become a recurring pattern.”
He pointed to Senegal’s elimination as a recent example, while also acknowledging the fighting spirit shown by DR Congo.
“DR Congo put up a good show, but the end-game management is what they lack,” he noted.
For Soname, the issue stretches across generations of African football history. He recalled several painful near-misses that continue to haunt the continent.
“Nigeria suffered similar cruel fates in USA ’94 and Russia 2018. Remember Ghana in 2010, Cameroon against England in 1990 and Senegal against Turkey in 2002. These examples show that we often struggle to run the extra mile that delivers truly great success.”
He also expressed concern about reports emerging from the Senegal camp following their exit, suggesting that internal discipline remains a critical factor in tournament football.
“The news coming out of the Senegalese camp after their exit shows that camp discipline was lacking. These are areas that must be addressed if Africa wants to consistently compete for the latter stages of the World Cup.”
Despite the disappointments, Soname reserved special praise for Cape Verde, whom he described as the revelation of the tournament.
“Looking at Cape Verde, which to me is the biggest revelation of the tournament, you can see how debutants were able to weave together relatively unknown players from lower leagues into a formidable team that gave former world champions Spain, Uruguay and Argentina a run for their money.”
The success story, he believes, offers valuable lessons for the rest of Africa, particularly Nigeria.
“It shows what can be achieved through organisation, planning and proper development structures,” he said.
Soname, whose football empire includes Remo Stars FC, Beyond Limits Academy and Remo Stars Ladies FC, believes the solution lies closer to home.
“What we need to do, especially in Nigeria, is to develop and reorganise our domestic league, improve the mentality of our players, structure the league better and ensure that football academies are properly organised.”
Coming from a man who has quietly transformed football infrastructure in Nigeria, the comments carry particular weight.
A recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), Soname has built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s most influential sports visionaries. Beyond football club ownership, he is the founder of Bet9ja, one of Nigeria’s leading gaming companies, and the owner of ValueJet, the airline that serves as the official carrier of the Super Eagles.
His investments have helped create pathways for young footballers while demonstrating that sustainable football development requires long-term commitment rather than short-term promises.
As Africa reflects on a World Cup campaign that produced unprecedented participation but limited knockout success, Soname’s message is clear: the continent possesses the talent to compete with the world’s best, but converting promise into history will require stronger structures, better management and a relentless focus on the fine margins that decide football’s biggest matches.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
One of world football’s fiercest rivalries takes centre stage on Monday when neighbours Portugal and Spain collide in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup Round of 16 encounter with history beckoning for both sides.
The all-European clash promises intrigue, tension and high-quality football as two of the tournament’s most accomplished teams battle for a place in the quarter-finals.
For Spain, the match presents an opportunity to carve out a unique place in World Cup history. La Roja have not conceded a goal in their last five matches and could become the first team ever to record six successive clean sheets at a single World Cup if they shut out Portugal.
The Spaniards have combined defensive discipline with attacking flair throughout the tournament, emerging as one of the strongest contenders for the title. Their backline has frustrated every opponent they have faced, while their possession-based approach has allowed them to control matches with authority.
Standing in their way, however, is a Portugal side determined to achieve a milestone of its own.
The Portuguese are seeking to reach successive FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, a feat that would underline their growing consistency on football’s biggest stage.
Led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have navigated the tournament with resilience and efficiency, overcoming difficult moments to remain firmly in contention for the trophy.
The encounter is also rich in narrative. Two footballing nations separated by a border but linked by decades of rivalry will once again contest Iberian supremacy, knowing that only one can continue the journey toward World Cup glory.
With Spain chasing a defensive record and Portugal seeking a historic breakthrough, the stakes could hardly be higher in what promises to be one of the most compelling matches of the Round of 16.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Twelve years after one of the most memorable knockout matches in World Cup history, the United States and Belgium are set to meet again with a quarter-final place hanging in the balance.
Their Round of 16 showdown on Monday revives memories of the dramatic 2014 encounter in Brazil, when Belgium defeated the Americans 2-1 after extra time in a thrilling contest that showcased the resilience and ambition of both nations.
Belgium enter the match carrying a strong record against Concacaf opposition at the World Cup. The Red Devils have won their last three World Cup meetings against teams from the region, a sequence that includes that famous victory over the United States.
The Europeans have once again demonstrated their pedigree during the 2026 tournament, blending experience with youthful energy as they seek another deep run in football’s premier competition.
Yet the United States arrive buoyed by home support and growing confidence after advancing to the knockout phase as one of the co-host nations.
The Americans have become one of the stories of the tournament and will look to use the energy of the crowd to overturn history against a Belgian side that has often proved a difficult obstacle.
Adding further intrigue is the availability of striker Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was dramatically put on hold by FIFA after the governing body invoked Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code. The decision has dominated headlines worldwide and ensures even greater attention will be focused on the match.
For Belgium, victory would reinforce their reputation as one of Europe’s most consistent tournament performers. For the United States, success would represent another landmark achievement in a World Cup campaign already filled with memorable moments.
With history, controversy and a quarter-final berth all on the line, the latest chapter of the USA-Belgium rivalry promises to be one of the most closely watched matches of the tournament.
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Neymar suggested he may have played his final match for Brazil after scoring in their defeat by Norway in the World Cup round of 16 on Sunday.
The forward converted a stoppage-time penalty in Brazil’s 2-1 loss, a result that eliminated the five-time champions and extended their wait for a sixth World Cup title.
Speaking briefly after the match to Bruno Formiga, a pundit for Brazilian channel ge tv, Neymar indicated that his tenure with Brazil had come to an end.
“I tried, I tried … Now it’s over! I started here, I finished here,” Neymar said, referring to the stadium in New Jersey, where he made his Brazil debut in a friendly against the United States in 2010.
The 34-year-old was moved to tears after the match. It was the national team’s worst World Cup performance since 1990.
Brazil are now heading towards their longest spell without a World Cup title since they first won the tournament. By 2030, they will have gone 28 years without lifting the trophy.
If Neymar confirms his international retirement, he will end his Brazil career with 80 goals and 58 assists in 130 appearances.
Neymar has won multiple titles at club level but his only senior trophy with Brazil was the 2013 Confederations Cup.
-Reuters
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