Nigeria’s World Cup Hopes Hang by a Thread After Poor Qualifying Run
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are in danger of missing back-to-back FIFA World Cups as they sit fourth in Group C of the qualifiers with just seven points from six matches. Despite having some of Africa’s best attacking talents, the team has struggled to impress.
Inconsistent Coaching and Poor Results
Nigeria’s qualifying campaign has been chaotic, with three different coaches leading the team at different stages. José Peseiro oversaw the first two matches in 2023, both ending in disappointing draws against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Finidi George then took charge, managing a home draw against South Africa before losing to Benin. Most recently, Eric Chelle secured a win against Rwanda but only managed a draw against Zimbabwe.
These inconsistent results have left Nigeria with just seven points, forcing fans to start calculating every possible scenario to keep their World Cup dream alive.
Can Nigeria Still Qualify?
With four matches left, Nigeria must win all their remaining games to have any chance of finishing second. Their upcoming fixtures include Rwanda (home), South Africa (away), Benin (home), and Lesotho (away). While these are games the Super Eagles should be capable of winning, their performances so far suggest otherwise.
South Africa currently lead Group C with 13 points and need only three more wins to secure a World Cup spot. If Rwanda and Benin draw in their upcoming match, the Bafana Bafana would require just two wins to qualify, making Nigeria’s task even tougher.
Even if Nigeria win all their games, they would still need other teams to drop points. Given the current standings, it is unlikely that all three teams ahead of them will suddenly struggle.
Playoffs Seem Unreachable
Finishing top of Group C is nearly impossible, and even qualifying for the playoffs is a long shot. Only the four best second-placed teams from all the groups will advance to the next stage.
Currently, six second-placed teams already have at least 12 points, while the seventh has 11. Nigeria, with just seven points, are four points behind Burkina Faso, who are the lowest-ranked second-placed team. To make the playoffs, Nigeria would need those teams to drop points while they win all their games—an unlikely scenario.
A Glimmer of Hope?
South Africa may face a setback as they fielded Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible due to accumulated yellow cards, in their match against Lesotho. FIFA may award Lesotho a 3-0 victory, which would reduce South Africa’s points to 10 and drop their goal difference from +5 to +2.
If this happens, South Africa would be just three points ahead of Nigeria, making the race for second place more competitive. However, Nigeria would still have to win all their matches and hope for favourable results elsewhere.
Super Eagles Must Step Up
Despite this possible advantage, Nigeria’s poor form remains a concern. Winning all their remaining matches is the only way they can keep their World Cup hopes alive. However, given their performances so far, there is no guarantee they will take advantage of the opportunity.
The road to the 2026 World Cup looks bleak for Nigeria, and unless the Super Eagles can turn things around quickly, they may be watching another tournament from home.
