Sports
Super Eagles 2026 World Cup Bid Suffers Major Setback
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have suffered a major setback in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the conclusion of Matchday 9 fixtures in the African qualifiers on Tuesday.
Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with 11 points from eight matches, trailing behind Benin Republic and South Africa, who both have 14 points.
With the expanded World Cup format offering nine automatic slots for Africa, along with four additional playoff spots for the best second-placed teams, Nigeria’s chances are now hanging by a thread.
Results from other groups have worsened the situation for the Super Eagles.
Burkina Faso’s 1–0 win over Sierra Leone, Cameroon’s 2–0 victory against Mauritius, and Madagascar’s 2–1 triumph over Comoros have pushed their points tallies beyond Nigeria’s reach.
As things stand, Gabon and Madagascar top the list of best-performing sides with 19 points each, while Burkina Faso and Cameroon follow closely on 18 points. Even if Nigeria wins its remaining two matches away to Lesotho and at home to Benin Republic, the team can only reach a maximum of 17 points.
To keep their World Cup dream alive, the Super Eagles must win both remaining matches convincingly and hope South Africa drops points in at least one of their remaining fixtures.
