Will Nigeria play in FIFA World Cup 2026?

The Super Eagles possess a remarkably talented squad at the moment!

Nigeria won’t be playing in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after failing to qualify for the competition. Despite boasting some top players, the Super Eagles’ dream of playing in the tournament fell apart in front of their eyes.

This was the second successive time Nigeria failed to make it to the competition after they couldn’t book their place in the 2022 event in Qatar.

Their last appearance came in 2018 in Russia, but since then, they have been a shadow of themselves and continue to deliver unimpressive performances on the international stage. They had a great chance of reaching the 2026 World Cup, considering the quality of their team, but failed to make the most of those star players and will now have to wait for the 2030 World Cup.

Nigeria’s record in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (CAF)

Nigeria’s display in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was way below and they should have topped the group instead of bouncing back at the last stage of the qualifiers. They finished second in the group with 17 points, just one point short of first-place South Africa.

However, they managed to reach the CAF playoff and faced the likes of Gabon and DR Congo, and had to beat both of them to secure the ticket to the FIFA playoffs.

They managed to overcome Gabon with a 4-1 win, but lost to DR Congo on penalties, and their 2026 World Cup dream was shattered into pieces.

Reasons for poor campaign

Nigeria’s recurring World Cup failures are not the product of singular errors or bad luck. They are the result of long-standing structural flaws, including antiquated football infrastructure, poor talent use, administrative instability, deteriorating youth development, and tactical instability.

Nigeria must make a sincere commitment to reform for the Super Eagles to restore their position on the international scene. This reform should enhance development routes, professionalise leadership, and adopt contemporary football methodology. The team won’t be able to fight with the elite regularly and eventually make it back to the World Cup until then.

Also Read: Will India play in FIFA World Cup 2026?

Current Situation

The Super Eagles have all the resources they need to play in the World Cup, including talents at all age brackets and top players featuring in top leagues and for big clubs. But their inability to get crucial results and crumbling under pressure has hindered their progress in recent years.

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