World Cup
Road Not Yet Closed: Nigeria’s Possible route to the World Cup
By DAVID OLALEKAN OLANREWAJU
Nigeria’s Super Eagles still have a chance, no matter how slim, to make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A door is opening, even though their fate is no longer in their hands. It awfully and painfully slipped away in Bloemfontein, last Tuesday.
Their possible route is now anchored on permutations, serious prayers and calculations. One possible option is for the team to win the remaining two matches – one away to the already eliminated Lesotho in South Africa and the other, a home match with Benin, a serious candidate.
The scenario runs thus:
If Nigeria win their remaining two matches with high goal margin and South Africa lose theirs, the consequence is that the Super Eagles will top the Group C table! The high scores proposed will enable them overturn the goal difference advantage South Africa have, in the event of equality in points if South Africa should lose their remaining matches to the already eliminated Zimbabwe and contending Rwanda.
The snag here is that both matches as well as the Lesotho versus Nigeria duel will be played on South African soil.
Alternatively, by winning the two matches with high scorelines and South Africa toping the table, the Super Eagles will get to their possible maximum of 17 points and could rank among the top four groups’ runners-up owing to the anticipated high goal difference.
That way, they go through the long route of continental and inter-continental play-off. This scenario is akin to “winning the lottery twice”—extremely unlikely.
Aiming to rank high among the possible groups’ runners-up look a more likely option. But this path is also hugely challenging.
Even with maximum points (17), Nigeria would still trail teams like Gabon, Madagascar, Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Uganda.
Gabon, already have 19 points and thus assured of a play-off slot. So, only three slots are available for contest. The duo of Madagascar and DR Congo already have 16 points and thus closer to obtaining a play-off ticket than Nigeria.
Yet another four – Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia and Uganda are already on 14 points. Namibia, still have an arithmetical chance of toping the Group H even with their current 14 points.
The same applies to Group E current second placed team, Tanzania who incidentally have 10 points.
In summary, Nigeria’s path is laced with landmines. The Super Eagles will need heavy goal margin wins in the two matches and hope South Africa lose their own two against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
Should that happen, Nigeria, South Africa and Benin will finish equal on 17 points and goal-difference will be the tie-breaker. The 17-point projection for Benin is based on their possible defeat of Rwanda in Kigali.
But if that does not happen, two wins by the Super Eagles will assure the team of a second position placement and possible play-off slot.
- Dr. David Olalekan Olanrewaju is the Editor, Our Moment Newspaper.
Email: ourmomentnewspaper@gmail.com
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr may be having the last laugh as his current team, Benin Republic, continue to shine in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, while Nigeria’s hopes are in tatters, if not ended.
Benin delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Lesotho, a team that had frustrated Nigeria to a 1-1 draw in Uyo back in 2023.
The result not only highlighted Benin’s growing momentum under Rohr but also underscored the Super Eagles’ ongoing struggles in the qualifying campaign.
The emphatic win sees Benin maintain second place in their group, just behind leaders South Africa, and three points clear of Nigeria heading into the crucial ninth round of fixtures.
Nigeria, on the other hand, face a difficult path forward, with mounting pressure on the team and coaching staff following a string of underwhelming performances.
For Rohr, who was sacked by Nigeria in 2021, the contrast in fortunes adds a personal twist to the unfolding drama.
As the qualification race intensifies, Benin’s resurgence under Rohr could prove decisive — and further compound the woes of the nation that once let him go.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s dream of securing a direct ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is effectively over following the results of Matchday 8 in the African qualifiers. The Super Eagles, now sitting third in Group C with just 11 points, are trailing behind Benin Republic, who have 14 points and occupy second place.
Even the prospect of reaching the World Cup through the play-off route appears increasingly unlikely. Under the current format, only the top team in each group qualifies automatically, while just four of the nine second-placed teams across the continent will earn a place in the inter-confederation play-offs.
As it stands, Benin—second in Group C—are only eighth in the overall runners-up ranking. Gabon currently lead that list with 19 points and a +10 goal difference, followed by Madagascar and DR Congo with 16 points each.
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia, and Uganda all sit closely behind with 15 points apiece.
If Nigeria manage to win their remaining two fixtures and finish second in the group, they would end the campaign with 17 points—still short of Gabon’s current tally and likely not enough to break into the top four among the runners-up, especially as other teams are also expected to pick up more points in the final rounds.
With the odds stacked against them, Nigeria’s remaining qualifiers now serve little more than as preparation matches for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in December.
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Egypt’s bid to secure World Cup qualification was put on hold after a 0-0 draw against Burkina Faso in a flat Group A encounter in Ouagadougou on Tuesday.
Hossam Hassan’s unbeaten side moved to 20 points and lead Group A by five points ahead of Burkina Faso, with two matches remaining in the qualifiers.
With only the group winners qualifying automatically, the seven-time African champions need two points from their last two games to guarantee their spot and a fourth appearance at the World Cup. They will face Djibouti and Guinea-Bissau in October.
Egypt coach Hassan, however, celebrated the result, which moved his side one step closer to reaching the 48-team tournament to be held in North America next year.
“It’s a great day for the Egyptian people… I would like to thank every player for their efforts against a tough team that has players in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1,” Hassan, the former Egypt striker who led them to the 1990 World Cup, told the On Sport channel.
“Despite playing in Burkina Faso, we played positively and created big chances. At the same time, we maintained balance. We could have scored one or two goals before the end,” he added.
Egypt suffered an early setback when Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush was forced off through injury in the ninth minute.
Their best moment came in the 67th minute when Mohamed Salah set up Osama Faisal but the substitute’s strike was ruled offside.
Egypt’s Trezeguet had the first chance of the game, but his effort was saved by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Herve Koffi.
The home side rarely attacked, with Sunderland forward Bertrand Traore leading most of their best efforts.
Egypt went close to grabbing a winner in the final moments, but Mostafa Mohamed missed two chances.
Hassan, Egypt’s all-time top scorer, will be the first to lead his side to the World Cup both as a player and as a coach.
The 59-year-old coach said: “My goal was to coach the Egyptian national team. I have always dreamed of that. I want to fulfil the fans’ dream and live up to their trust (by leading the team to the World Cup).”
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