ThePapers can authoritatively reports that some senior players in Nigeria’s Super Eagles team have lost hope of qualifying for next year’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread.
The Africa Cup of Nations runners-up are winless in their first four matches in CAF Group C, with a 2-1 loss to Benin last time out following three consecutive draws.
Overall, the Super Eagles are winless in their past seven World Cup Qualifiers, a remarkable drought that stretches back to November 2021.
That campaign ended with an away-goals defeat to Ghana in the playoffs and they might not even make it that far this time around.
The Super Eagles lie fifth in the six-team Group C on three points. On the face of it, that’s a dismal state of affairs, but they are only four points behind second-place South Africa. In turn, Bafana Bafana are only behind leaders Rwanda on goal difference.
Nigeria have six games remaining to turn the ship around, with teams playing one another home and away during the group phase.
Some senior players who spoke on the conditions of anonymity said World Cup ticket is not certain except on miracle and the government should assures of adequate security due to fans reactions.
Among them is a regular defender who was part of last AFCON, carefully chosen his words by saying only God knows but it’s tight.
“There’s hardship in Nigeria, so it will be hard to qualify for World Cup,” he sounded off with laughter.
Another regular player said: “Abeg I don’t want to play with pressure, World Cup ticket is tight, things have gone bad.”
A midfielder was a bit optimistic saying that football is a game of luck in such situations that Super Eagles can still get the ticket.
“Honestly speaking, anything can happen and that’s still depend on the new coach. As a player, I don’t know him and I can’t say anything yet until his first game.”
