NFF President Insists Super Eagles Can Still Qualify For 2026 World Cup

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has expressed a strong sense of optimism regarding the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Gusau’s confidence comes despite the team’s challenging start in the qualification series, where they currently find themselves positioned fifth in Group C.

The Super Eagles’ performance has been disappointing so far, having played four matches that resulted in three draws and one defeat. Their recent record has sparked concern among football administrators, fans, and enthusiasts alike, highlighting a pressing issue for the governing body.

In a detailed statement outlining his vision for the future heading into 2025, Gusau acknowledged the team’s struggles in the World Cup qualifiers. He emphasized that while this has been a cause for worry, he remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can regain their form.

“Our commitment is to revive that Super Eagles squad that previously made the nation proud during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, where we came agonizingly close—just 23 minutes away—from lifting the trophy,” Gusau said.

“If we can find a way to do that, we can be sure that the target of winning the six remaining matches in the qualifiers to gain automatic qualification to the World Cup is achievable.”

Gusau underscored the significance of obtaining a FIFA World Cup ticket, asserting that it would not only boost the team’s confidence but also generate momentum for a strong performance at the AFCON tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco later in 2025.

Despite a promising start to the year 2024 at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast—where the Super Eagles finished as runners-up—the team has faced a significant decline in form during the World Cup qualification series.

They kicked off their campaign with consecutive draws at home against Lesotho and South Africa, as well as an away draw against Zimbabwe. Their fortunes were further strained by a 2-1 defeat to the Benin Republic, which compounded the pressure on the coaching staff and the players.

With only three points from their opening four matches, Nigeria finds themselves trailing behind rivals Rwanda, South Africa, and the Benin Republic by four points, while Lesotho currently sit one spot above them with five points.

The defeat to the Benin Republic triggered a crisis within the team, leading to the departure of head coach Finidi George. As a result, NFF Technical Director Austin Eguavoen has stepped in to lead the team on an interim basis, with plans to appoint a permanent coach ahead of the next round of matches scheduled for March 2025.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will be preparing for an important away match against Rwanda in Kigali, followed by a home clash against Zimbabwe that could be pivotal for their aspirations of World Cup qualification.