Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said it will be a big shame should Nigeria miss out on the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles are second from bottom of Group C with three points from four matches.
The qualifying tournament will hit the halfway mark in March 2025.
Rohr, whose team Benin recorded a famous 2-1 win over Super Eagles, said Nigeria have the best players in Africa and it will be a disaster if such a big football country missed out on the World Cup back-to-back.
“If they miss another one, for such a football country with the best players in Africa, it would be a little bit shameful,” said Rohr, whose team Benin are front runners in the same qualifying group with Nigeria.
“So, I think the players will do everything to go there (World Cup), and also the federation and the staff. But now, of course they must be realistic and say that it’s only three points in four games,”
The Super Eagles face a Herculean task to turn around their fortunes in the qualifiers, but Rohr said it is not impossible.
He said: “South Africa are number one, we have to be realistic. Number two can still be Nigeria if they all come together in good spirit with all the players highly motivated.
“They have to beat Lesotho, they can beat Rwanda, they can beat Zimbabwe, they should beat all these teams. And at home, they can beat Benin, but I think we also can beat Nigeria again.
“So, if they win these four matches, you know, it’s 12 points. And if they beat South Africa, I think they can still do it. But they have to beat South Africa in South Africa, which will not be easy.
“And so, for me, Benin also have a little chance because now the confidence is there and the team are together.”
