Nigeria’s World Cup dreams hang in the balance as the Super Eagles fight for redemption.
Stanley Nwabali urges fans to believe, insisting hope still burns despite poor standings.
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali remains hopeful about Nigeria’s chances of securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their current position in the qualifiers.
The Nigerian national team, three-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions, currently sits in fourth place in their qualification group. With only the group winners guaranteed a ticket to the global tournament, the pressure is mounting on the Super Eagles to win all remaining fixtures if they hope to reach the finals set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Speaking to Brila FM, Nwabali, who plays for South African club Chippa United, emphasized a game-by-game approach. While acknowledging the team’s struggles so far, he stressed that qualification remains mathematically possible.
“It is football. Just because we are Nigerians doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed to win every game,” Nwabali said. “You can see we still have a lot of chances to qualify, despite where we are on the table.”
The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who rose to prominence during the 2023 AFCON tournament, expressed the team’s resolve to bounce back in the next round of matches.
“We’re going to push in our next game, take it one game at a time, and we’ll see how our next four games go,” he added.
Nigeria’s qualification campaign has been marred by inconsistent performances and dropped points against supposedly weaker opponents. The recent results have raised concerns among fans and analysts alike, with growing calls for tactical adjustments and more aggressive play from head coach Finidi George’s squad.
With four matches left in the group stage, the Super Eagles still have an opportunity to turn things around. However, they will need maximum points and favorable results from other group fixtures to clinch the sole qualification ticket.
The 2026 World Cup will feature an expanded format of 48 teams, with more slots allocated to Africa, offering renewed hope to teams like Nigeria. Nevertheless, the path remains steep and requires consistent performance.
Nwabali’s comments reflect a determined mindset within the squad, and fans will be watching closely as Nigeria prepares for the critical fixtures that could define their World Cup fate.
