Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has admitted that Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are extremely slim.
Speaking at his first press conference as the new general manager of Kano Pillars, Musa expressed deep concern over the team’s position in the qualifiers, stating bluntly that only a miracle can keep their hopes alive. “Only a miracle would take Nigeria to the World Cup, because right now we are in deep shits,” he said.
The Super Eagles’ World Cup qualification hopes hinge on the outcome of a FIFA ruling concerning Lesotho’s protest over South Africa fielding an allegedly ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, during a March 2024 qualifier.
Should FIFA side with Lesotho and strip South Africa of the three points they earned in that match, the group standings would change dramatically, potentially giving Nigeria a lifeline in the race for a place in the tournament to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Currently, South Africa leads the group with 13 points from six matches. Rwanda and Benin Republic both trail with eight points, while Nigeria sits in fourth with seven. Lesotho and Zimbabwe round off the group with six and four points respectively.
Musa reiterated the gravity of the situation: “Well, we are hopeful… but right now, honestly, we are in deep shit.”
Compounding the Super Eagles’ struggles is a slight slip in their global ranking. In the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday, Nigeria dropped one spot to 44th in the world. Within Africa, the team ranks fifth, trailing Morocco (12th), Senegal (18th), Egypt (34th), and Algeria (36th).
Upcoming fixtures will not be easy for Nigeria. On matchday 7, the Super Eagles will host Rwanda, who have climbed to 127th in the world rankings. Matchday 8 pits them against South Africa, who have held steady at 56th globally. These fixtures will be critical if Nigeria is to mount any late comeback in the qualifiers.
Despite the World Cup concerns, the Super Eagles enjoyed a positive run during the May–June international break. At the Unity Cup held in London, Nigeria triumphed over Ghana and Jamaica to lift the trophy under head coach Eric Chelle, boosting team morale and fan optimism, if only briefly.
Earlier in June, the team played to a 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly in Moscow. While the result didn’t impact their standings, it offered valuable match practice ahead of upcoming qualifiers. For now, all eyes are on FIFA’s ruling, as it could spell the difference between despair and an unlikely resurgence for the Super Eagles.
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