Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emphasized that Nigerians should maintain the belief that there is still hope for the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Currently, Nigeria is positioned fourth in Group C, having accumulated six points from six matches, comprising one victory, four draws, and one defeat, trailing the group leaders, South Africa, by six points, and closely following Rwanda and Benin, who are tied for second and third place.
Nwabali pointed out that the Eagles still have a chance to succeed. The three-time African champions face the possibility of missing consecutive World Cup tournaments, having already been absent from the 2022 edition in Qatar. However, Nwabali is optimistic, asserting that all hope is not lost, as four critical matches are remaining and 12 points are still available.
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“It’s football, being Nigerian doesn’t automatically mean we’ll beat everyone,” Nwabali stated in an interview with Bold Sports. “Despite our current standing, we still have a solid opportunity to qualify. Our focus is on the next match, and we will continue to strive to improve our situation.” Nigeria is set to host Rwanda and will travel to South Africa in September, concluding their qualifying campaign in October with an away match against Lesotho and a home game against Benin.
Augustine Eguavoen, the former head coach of the Super Eagles, has expressed confidence that the team can still secure a spot in next year’s World Cup. The 59-year-old took over the team on an interim basis after Finidi George resigned following two matches. Eguavoen successfully guided the three-time African champions to qualify for the 2025 AFCON tournament before Eric Chelle was appointed as the permanent head coach.
