Former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro, has said on paper the Super Eagles should qualify easily for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles were drawn in Group C with South Africa, Benin Republic, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Rwanda in the race for the 2026 tournament to be co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.
In the race for qualification to the 1994 World Cup, the Eagles and South Africa clashed in the first round.
After a 4-0 win in Lagos, the Eagles held the Bafana Bafana to a goalless draw in Johannesburg.
Zimbabwe and Rwanda were in the same group with the Eagles in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers which Angola secured ahead of the three-time AFCON winners.
Also, the Eagles will come up against former coach Gernot Rohr, who is currently in charge of Benin Republic.
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Reacting to the draw Babayaro, gold medal winner at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, posited that the Eagles should not have problems.
However, he pointed out some of the issues that can cost the team the ticket.
“On paper you would say we have already qualified and that’s how it’s suppose to be because Nigeria is one of the most powerful nations in the world as far as football is concern,” Babayaro said on Breakfast Show on Brila FM.
“But we’ve also seen in recent times that as a result of our lackadaisical attitude and managerial ineptitude we’ve suffered some knocks here and there.
“On a good day I should say we have already qualified but we need to do the right thing but unfortunately we don’t have the best technical hands at the moment and we’ve been suffering from that for a while now and that might just be the Achilles heel. But on paper we should be able to qualify.“
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COMMENTS
Not with this coach, defence or the goalkeeping inconsistency we have at the moment because SA is a team that makes mistakes but also takes advantage of opposition mistakes as well to create goals.
Ok Baba also highlighted the coaches concerns. All the same NFF must for once sit up and behave themselves for once. In Brazil football riches and successes has in one way or the other rubbed into development and exposure of the nation. So Nigeria government should take note and make sure NFF does the right thing for our football to be properly runned for our youths to have something to cling to in other to reduce the spate of fraudulent activities going on in the country.
Many foreign players that have been doing shakara when asked to play for Nigeria will soon start confessing their readiness to wear green white and green just because they want to be at world cup come 2026 and are aware that Nigeria will easily qualify from our group.
@Godsate Is that suppose to be a good thing or a bad thing. Get your point across without beating around the bush..
In my opinion this doing Shakara you and pinnick go on about where has that got us?. Sometimes in life my dear friend one countries mis fortune is another’s fortune. If this is the same way Ghana Got Nico Williams and Tariq Lamptey and you saw thier Performance for them in WC. Why can’t you Nigerians just do away with your Stupid arrogance and see that as a good blessing in disguise. Instead of being stupid and loading the team with mumu NPFL players because of lack of humility look at how well Saka is doing now.
If World Cup will make quality players pledge thier allegiance to Nigeria(Because at the end of the day they are Nigerians) then that is a good thing haba. If Olise says he will play for Nigeria in WC will you turn him away because he did Shakira while he refined his skills. If Tosin says he will play for Nigeria will you turn him away. If Udogie does the same Nko.
Guy you people should wake up. We have no leg to be Arrogant. We need thier help just as much as they need a national team so whats the deal here. Or is Nigeria going to offer them better Post retirement treatment that France, England or Italy?.
Haba!!!!!
It will not be new if we don’t qualify. We are no more allergic to not qualifying.