Can Nigeria still Qualify for 2026 World Cup?

By Saidu Abubakar

Until recently, chances given to Nigeria to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been slim, taking into consideration the initial lackluster performance of the Super Eagles. Worrisome was, among others, an injurious 2-1 loss to neighbouring Benin Republic as well as a home draw forced by Lesotho, which was thought to have hit the final nail of the African Cup of Nations runners-up’s coffin.

A recent sigh of relief suggests that struggling Nigeria can still reach the finals to be cohosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, to bring to an end, their World Cup appearance drought after failures in their past seven World Cup qualifiers stretching back to November 2021. However, thanks to a redemptional 3-0 bashing of Benin and a drab goalless away to the Wasps of Rwanda which brought the succour for the Super Eagles, under the tutelage of caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen who was in charge against Benin and Rwanda.

The final three international breaks of 2024 will see Nigeria in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action, with results in those matches probably going a long way to settling the long-term future of the team’s management before their World Cup qualification resumes in March of 2025.

The Super Eagles were lying fifth in the six-team Group C on three points prior to the Benin win and Rwanda draw to also join the Swaps of Rwanda and South Africa who since tied on 7 points.

Uncharacteristically, that was a dismal performance by the Nigerian senior national team. Their remaining matches, if well executed, could turn the table around, when teams eventually play one another on home and away basis. Winners of CAF’s nine groups automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up lock horns in a playoff to decide which team advances to the inter-confederation eliminator round.

Rwanda are also in AFCON qualification Group D which means that Nigeria’s return to World Cup qualifiers at the Stade Amahoro on March 17, 2025 will be the third meeting between them in a space of six months.

Nine tickets await African nations for a spot each at the 2026 World Cup, with the possibility of a 10th taking part. One representative from each confederation, except for UEFA and with two from CONCACAF as the host federation, will contest the six-team playoff. The two highest-ranked teams, according to FIFA’s world rankings, will be seeded for the playoff, which will decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.

The seeded teams will face the winners of two semi-finals featuring the four unseeded teams for a place at the tournament.

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