World Cup
World Cup 2026 is a ‘Mission Impossible’ for Super Eagles
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the Super Eagles to qualify for the World Cup 2026.
The moment Zimbabwe’s substitute player, Tawanda Chirewa, sneaked through a Nigerian defence trying to wind down the clock at the dot of regulation time, it was not just an equaliser for the Brave Warriors of Zimbabwe; it was the beginning of the end of Nigeria’s lean chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
After three home matches in the series, the Super Eagles could not pick a win. They have dropped six valuable points on home ground.
There are just two more home matches against Rwanda and Benin while the other two matches away will be contested in South Africa against the Bafana Bafana and also Lesotho who have adopted South Africa as their home ground.
On account of intense rivalry, it is unlikely that the Super Eagles will get breathing space on South African soil.
Even as the possibility exists that South Africa may suffer a three-point deduction over fielding an ineligible player in their Match Day 5 fixture, Nigeria will not be a direct beneficiary. South Africa will still retain the leadership of the group.
Rather, Nigeria will drop from the current fourth position to the fifth.
It will be an advantage to Lesotho who will benefit and limp from the fifth position to second as their point haul will rise to 9, just one behind the likely 10 that South Africa will have if three points are deducted.
With Nigeria finding it difficult to win at home, the possibility of beating Rwanda in the 31 August Match Day 7 fixture cannot be guaranteed. Rwanda had beaten Nigeria on home ground before, they will be ambitious to repeat the feat against a team with sagging hopes and epileptic form.
In a corresponding match, Lesotho may opt out of South Africa to prosecute their home fixture against Bafana Bafana as they are likely to be in contention for Group C leadership.
With just four matches to go and just 12 maximum points at stake, the possibility of getting a comfortable second position and qualifying for a tortious play-off looks remote.
Four best second-placed teams out of nine will go for a play-off that will produce a team for an Intercontinental play-off.
With the current trend, the likelihood of a Group C team qualifying for the play-off is very remote. After six match days, depending on where the pendulum of FIFA‘s decision swings in the South Africa – Lesotho match, the best a Group C second-placed team will have going into match day 7 will be nine points for Lesotho if points are deducted from South Africa. If not, it will be Rwanda with eight points.
Already, the second-placed team in Group F, Gabon is on 15 points. Groups B, D, G, H and I already have second-placed teams on 12 points. Only in Group E where Morocco will likely pick a World Cup ticket on Match Day 7, has a second-placed team, Niger Republic, with a lower point haul than its counterpart in Group C.
With epileptic form, the chances of Super Eagles are very slim. Flashback to the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the 1-1 draw on Tuesday with Zimbabwe means that the Super Eagles have won just one World Cup qualifying duel in eight matches.
How the second-placed teams currently rank
Group A – Burkina Faso 11 points
Group B – Senegal – 12 points
Group C – Rwanda – 8 points (Lesotho potentially 9 pending FIFA’s decision)
Group D – Cameroon – 12 points
Group E – Niger – 6 points
Group F – Gabon 15 points
Group G – Mozambique – 12 points
Group H – Namibia – 12 points
Group I – Comoros Islands 12 points
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Senegal produced a dazzling second-half display to become the first African team to score five goals in a FIFA World Cup 2026 match, thrashing 10-man Iraq 5-0 on Friday and keeping alive their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
With survival at stake, the Lions of Teranga knew only a convincing victory would give them a realistic chance of sneaking into the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. They responded with a performance full of power, flair and determination that left Iraq overwhelmed and ultimately eliminated.
The match had barely settled when Senegal struck. In the fourth minute, Lamine Camara whipped a corner into a crowded penalty area where Abdoulaye Seck rose highest. His downward header took a slight touch off Habib Diarra’s boot and looped beyond helpless goalkeeper Ahmed Basil to give Senegal the perfect start.
Things soon went from bad to worse for Iraq.
Sadio Mane, sensing an opening, burst clear towards goal only to be hauled down by defender Rebin Sulaka just outside the penalty area. After consulting VAR, English referee Anthony Taylor reached for the red card, reducing Iraq to ten men and handing Senegal a numerical advantage for more than an hour.
Yet Iraq refused to surrender.
Despite being a man down, the Asian side continued to attack courageously and occasionally troubled the Senegal defence. Senegal, meanwhile, struggled to convert their superiority into goals before the interval, with Mane and Ismail Jakobs firing speculative efforts wide.
Whatever was said in the Senegal dressing room during the break had an immediate effect.
The African side emerged with renewed urgency and soon turned the contest into a celebration.
Ismaila Sarr doubled the lead from close range, registering his fourth World Cup goal and becoming Senegal’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. The strike opened the floodgates.
Substitute Pape Gueye then stole the spotlight.
The midfielder unleashed two stunning long-range thunderbolts that flew past Basil and ignited wild celebrations among thousands of Senegal supporters packed into the stadium. Each strike was greeted by deafening roars and rhythmic dancing in the stands as fans sensed history unfolding before their eyes.
Not to be outdone, fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye added another spectacular effort from distance, completing a five-star performance and ensuring Senegal became the first African nation to score five goals in a single World Cup match.
As the final minutes ticked away, the sea of green in the stands found its voice. Chants of “Senegal! Senegal!” echoed around the stadium while supporters danced and waved flags, hoping their team’s emphatic victory would be enough to extend their stay in North America.
The result lifted Senegal to third place in Group I with three points, behind group winners France and runners-up Norway. Iraq finished bottom of the group without a point and exited the competition.
For Senegal, however, the story is not yet complete. Their fate now rests on results elsewhere as they wait anxiously to discover whether their historic five-goal triumph will earn them one of the eight coveted places reserved for the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
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France finished atop Group I at the FIFA World Cup after Ousmane Dembele produced a scintillating first-half hat-trick to inspire Les Bleus to a commanding 4-1 victory over a heavily rotated Norway side on Friday.
Already assured of qualification for the knockout rounds, the 2018 world champions underlined their title credentials with an attacking display that left Norway struggling to cope despite having already secured second place in the group.
France nearly made the perfect start when captain Kylian Mbappe rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive just 25 seconds into the contest. The breakthrough arrived moments later when Mbappe threaded a superb pass through the Norwegian defence for Ballon d’Or winner Dembele, who calmly fired home in the seventh minute.
Dembele doubled France’s advantage midway through the half with a brilliantly angled finish, continuing a dazzling display that highlighted his growing influence at the tournament.
Norway, who rested 10 of their 11 regular starters, including leading scorer Erling Haaland, briefly threatened a response when the unmarked Thelo Aasgaard reduced the deficit. However, the goal proved little more than a consolation as Dembele completed his first World Cup hat-trick in the 32nd minute with another clinical finish.
The French forward’s treble effectively settled the contest before halftime, leaving Norway with a mountain to climb.
The Scandinavians were handed an opportunity to narrow the gap early in the second half when they won a penalty, but Jorgen Strand Larsen saw his effort saved five minutes after the restart.
France remained in control throughout the second period and added further gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time when Desire Doue struck the fourth goal to cap an impressive evening for Didier Deschamps’ men.
The result ensured France finished as Group I winners and maintained their unbeaten record heading into the knockout stage. Their Round of 32 opponents will only be confirmed after the completion of Saturday’s group matches, although Sweden are currently the most likely challengers.
Norway, despite the defeat, advance as runners-up and will face Côte d’Ivoire in the Round of 32 in Dallas on June 30.
For France, the night belonged to Dembele, whose first World Cup hat-trick provided a timely reminder of the attacking firepower at the disposal of one of the tournament favourites.
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Ghana face one of the most unusual scenarios of the FIFA World Cup when they take on Croatia in their final Group L match on Saturday.
On the surface, victory appears the obvious objective. However, the outcome of the match carries significant implications beyond qualification.
If Ghana beat Croatia:
- Group Position: Higher finish in Group L.
- Round of 32 Opponent: Portugal.
- Venue: Toronto, Canada.
- Major Drawback: Midfield star Thomas Partey would be unavailable because of an unresolved Canadian visa issue, depriving the Black Stars of one of their most influential players.
If Ghana lose to Croatia:
- Group Position: Lower placing in Group L.
- Round of 32 Opponent: Colombia.
- Venue: Atlanta, United States.
- Major Advantage: Thomas Partey would be eligible for selection, as the match would be played in the United States, where he has no travel restrictions.
The Dilemma
Ghana must weigh the benefits of finishing higher in the group against the loss of a key player for the knockout stage. A victory would earn a prestigious tie against Portugal but without Partey, while defeat would lead to a meeting with Colombia with the Arsenal midfielder available.
It presents a rare World Cup conundrum in which success in the group stage could come at a high sporting cost, leaving the Black Stars with a decision that extends beyond the result on the pitch.
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