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Seyi Olofinjana

Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has expressed disappointment over his exclusion from Nigeria’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, revealing that he was never informed why he was omitted despite playing a significant role during the qualification campaign.

Speaking while reflecting on his international career, Olofinjana described the experience as one of the most painful moments of his football journey, saying the lack of communication from the coaching crew made the disappointment even harder to accept.

The former midfielder recalled featuring prominently during Nigeria’s qualification campaign and even captaining the team in several matches before the final squad was announced.

“I was never told why I was dropped,” Olofinjana said, adding that no official explanation was given before the team departed for South Africa.

Nigeria was coached by Swedish tactician Lars Lagerbäck at the tournament after he replaced Shaibu Amodu shortly before the World Cup.

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Olofinjana admitted that while every coach has the right to select players, he expected honest communication regarding the decision, particularly after years of service to the national team.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City midfielder represented Nigeria at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and earned praise for his consistency in midfield during his international career.

His comments have reignited discussions among football fans about the management decisions leading up to the 2010 World Cup, with many recalling the controversy surrounding the final squad selection.

Although disappointed, Olofinjana said he has moved on from the incident and remains proud of his contributions to Nigerian football.

His reflections serve as a reminder of the emotional impact selection decisions can have on players who dedicate years to representing their country at the highest level.