If we can’t scale through and qualify for the World Cup in a group filled with low-ranking underdogs and minnows, then maybe we don’t deserve to be at the competition.
Football is one thing that unites Nigerians. It blurs the nation’s faultlines, erases its heterogeneous make-up and divisive markings, albeit momentarily. A victorious outing by the Super Eagles in any competition brings respite to the beleaguered nation and its much-tried citizens as they forget their problems, abandon their worries and unite to celebrate the nation’s triumph. However, these triumphant moments that bring reprieve and succour to the people have become a rarity in recent years. With Nigeria about to miss out on another World Cup, the hope of things getting better in the near future is quite bleak.
The Super Eagles‘ performance at the ongoing World Cup qualifiers has been uninspiring, appalling and leaves much to be desired. In a group with South Africa, Rwanda, Lesotho, Benin Republic and Zimbabwe, one would have thought Nigeria would coast through and qualify for the mundial with ease, but they are not only struggling, they are languishing in the fourth place, far outside the range of qualifications.
The journey so far
Out of six matches played so far the Super Eagles have drawn four, won one and lost one.
The Super Eagles played their first match of the qualifier against Lesotho on 15 November 2023 at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Akwa Ibom. The match ended in a one-all. The second match of the campaign against Zimbabwe, four days later also ended in a one-all draw.
The third match of the World Cup Qualifiers on 7 June 2024 was against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. The match also ended in a one-all draw. The fourth match took place three days later against the Benin Republic. It was away from home. The Super Eagles lost the match two goals to one despite going ahead first in the match.
The fifth match was against Rwanda. The match was played in Kigali on 20 March 2025. The Super Eagles won the match by two-nil, securing their first victory of the campaign. The Super Eagles’ sixth match against Zimbabwe took place five days later in Nigeria. The match ended in a one-all draw.
Can Nigeria still make it to the mundial?
With the Super Eagles’ woeful performance so far, the chances of Nigeria making it to the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, are slim. Even if Super Eagles win their remaining matches, they must rely on results from elsewhere to stand a chance, as their destiny is no longer in their hands. Super Eagles will square up against Rwanda in a must-win tie on Saturday to keep their qualification hope alive. While many expect them to win the match, it is the encounter against South Africa three days later that fills many Nigerians with dread and worry. Aside from a wonderful home record in World Cup Qualifiers, the Bafana Bafana have been in fantastic form this campaign. They have won four of their six matches so far, drawing one and losing one, leaving them comfortably at the top of the group. Also, in 30 matches they played at home during World Cup Qualifiers, they won twenty-four, lost four and drew two.
What absence at the World Cup would mean
Since their debut at the global football showpiece in 1994, the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the World Cup twice, in 2006 and 2022, but have not missed out on two consecutive editions of the tournament. With the chances of qualifying for the waning like a setting sun with every match played, Nigeria’s absence will not only deal a huge blow to the citizens who love football and use it as an escape from the disconcerting and troubling realities of everyday life, the career of the players will also take a hit as they would now have missed out on two World Cups in their prime. The FIFA World Cup is not an obscure and inconsequential football competition; it’s the world’s biggest and most-watched sporting event. You’ve to be at your best to be there because you will only play the top teams. If we can’t scale through and qualify for the World Cup in a group filled with low-ranking underdogs and minnows, then maybe we don’t deserve to be at the competition. We can still qualify, but our chances hang precariously by a thread as our destiny is in other people’s hands.
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