Benedict Iroha, a former defender for Watford, expresses strong belief that Nigeria’s Super Eagles have regained the confidence and caliber essential to clinch a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This renewed optimism comes on the heels of their commanding 4-0 triumph over Benin Republic, as highlighted by Soccernet.ng.
Although this decisive victory did not secure automatic qualification, it elevated Nigeria into the CAF play-off stage, placing them among the top four second-placed teams across the qualification groups.
This achievement grants the Super Eagles a renewed opportunity to compete for a coveted berth at the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Nigeria Super Eagles: Tolu Arokodare, Christantus Uche, Akor Adams” width=”750″ height=”937″ />Nigeria is set to clash with Gabon on November 13 in Morocco in a single-leg semi-final encounter. The victor will then face either Cameroon or DR Congo for the final African inter-confederation play-off slot.
“I want to commend Nigerians for the outstanding win and especially praise the team for their relentless determination that produced such a dominant performance,” Iroha shared with Complete Sports.
“The Super Eagles delivered an impressive display. The players approached the match with unwavering focus, and I am thrilled with the result.”
Having been part of the coaching staff during the Golden Eaglets’ victorious 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign in South Korea, Iroha lauded the team’s grit and determination.
“If the squad can maintain this intensity throughout the upcoming Morocco playoffs, I am confident their path to World Cup qualification will be smooth,” Iroha remarked.
“Some critics might argue the team left things until the last minute, but triumphs earned through perseverance are the sweetest. We have a promising group of young talents who seem to be improving with every outing.”
“With the Morocco playoffs on the horizon, my counsel to the players is to keep their focus sharp and capitalize on this momentum to secure their World Cup ticket.”
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CAF Play-offs: Nigeria’s Upcoming Challenge in Morocco
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the World Cup qualification play-offs will feature the four best runners-up from the group phase.
These pivotal matches are scheduled to take place on neutral territory in Morocco between November 13 and 16, 2025.
Nigeria will face Gabon in the first semi-final, while Cameroon will compete against DR Congo in the other. Both fixtures are set for November 13, with the winners advancing to the final showdown on November 16 to determine Africa’s representative for the inter-confederation play-offs.
The subsequent phase, slated for March 2026 in Mexico, will feature six teams from various confederations: one each from Africa, Asia, South America, and Oceania, alongside two from North and Central America. The two highest-ranked teams will receive byes to the final round, while the remaining four will battle in semi-finals to claim the last two World Cup spots.
Should Nigeria advance, they are likely to be seeded, meaning they would require just one more victory to confirm their participation in the 2026 World Cup.