After a rather poor start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign during which they could only manage three points in their first three games, the Super Eagles did the near-impossible by giving themselves a second chance to feature at next year’s Mundial via the Playoffs.
They achieved this on the final day of action and they did so in style when they shot down erstwhile Group C leaders the Cheetahs of Benin 4-0 for their biggest home win in many years.
Victor Osimhen delivered a hat-trick on a day that it mattered most and so 250 million Nigerians could continue to dream that the country’s green-white-green flag will still fly high in USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Before Tuesday’s final round of matches in Group C, bookmakers installed South Africa as favourites to qualify for the World Cup with 53.3%, followed by Benin with 26.1%.
The Super Eagles chances of qualification was put at 18.6%.
Somehow, Eritrea’s withdrawal from the CAF qualifying tournament was the divine help Nigeria needed to advance to the Playoffs next month in Morocco ahead of the likes of Burkina Faso, who recorded 21 points and boasted a +15 goals difference, and Madagascar, who posted 19 points, two points more than the Super Eagles.
President Bola Tinubu was apt and clear on what the Super Eagles must now do after they have renewed hope of qualifying for the World Cup.
”While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” he stated in his congratulatory message to the team.
“The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
The Playoffs will demand total commitment and focus from the team as well as the continued support of the NFF, NSC and the Federal Government.
They open their Playoffs campaign on November 13 against Gabon, who were only beaten to the automatic qualification ticket by reigning African champions Cote d’Ivoire on the final day of action.
Gabon finished with an impressive 25 points from 10 matches, only a point shy of Group F winners Cote d’Ivoire.
The winners of this tie will then take on the winners of the other Playoffs clash between Cameroon and DR Congo to determine Africa’s representatives in an intercontinental Playoffs that will involve Bolivia, New Caledonia, two teams from Central America and either Iraq or UAE from Asia.
This mini-tournament in March 2026 in Mexico will produce two additional qualifiers for the biggest World Cup ever.
