Former Super Eagles star Etim Esin has opened up about falling into deep depression and cocaine addiction following his exclusion from Nigeria’s historic 1994 FIFA World Cup squad.
Former Nigeria midfielder Etim Esin has detailed the devastating impact of missing the 1994 World Cup, admitting the heartbreak led to drug abuse.
Speaking on the Play Zone Podcast, the ex-international described the omission as his career’s greatest regret, revealing it sparked a battle with suicidal thoughts and depression.
“My greatest regret was not playing at the World Cup,” he said. “That led me to a lot of depression.”
Esin explained that the pain of being sidelined while his peers made history pushed him toward destructive habits.
He noted that the collapse of a promised leadership role further fueled his downward spiral. “I was so depressed that I went into drugs, I was taking cocaine,” Esin admitted.
Despite his absence, the Super Eagles reached the Round of 16 during their celebrated debut tournament in the United States.
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