Former international Victor Ikpeba has said the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs would be a tough test for the Super Eagles, reports Completesports.com.
The Super Eagles thrashed Benin Republic 4-0 in their final Group C game at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Tuesday night to earn a place in the playoffs.
Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen grabbed a hat-trick, while substitute Frank Onyeka was also also on target for the three-time African champions in the game.
Cameroon, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of Congo are the other countries that will compete at the playoffs.
Big Task Ahead
Ikpeba expressed disappointment that the Super Eagles failed to secure an automatic qualification for the World Cup.
“People are disappointed. We should top our group with the potential we have,” Ikpeba told Supersport.
Read Also:Udeze: Super Eagles Must Utilise Playoff To Qualify For 2026 World Cup
“I can’t wait for the playoff. The games with Gabon and Cameroon are spicy. These are the great derbies in African football.
“If we have to play Cameroon, that is another struggle, another spicy game. It’s not going to come easy, in this playoff, no.
Ikpeba Wishes Super Eagles Luck
Despite the enormity of the task ahead of the team, Ikpeba believed they can scale through the hurdle with the right mentality.
“I wish our boys well. All the best of luck, and if they get to these games with the same mentality, I think we will get through it,”added the former Monaco of France striker.
Morocco will host the playoffs from Thursday, 13 November to Sunday, 16 November.
The winner of the playoffs will proceed to the intercontinental playoffs to compete with five other countries.
By Adeboye Amosu
2 Comments
I thought this Ikpeba is a member of the NNF technical board who put Nigeria in this situation . That board need to be Sacked. Where were they when CAF approved south Africa to play Zimbabwe, lesoto home games in south Africa? Where were they when south Africa take S.E to a bad pitch that gave Ola Aina a carrer threatening injury. We are where we Because of bad football administration not players
@O.442 On a second thought, I think if we had a worthy second stadium, Benin would have chosen us as hosts so it really wasn’t SA fault hosting extra two matches as “away” games
Morocco also hosted their “away games” with Niger and Congo Brazaville in 2 of their numerous stadia.
I think NFF and Gusau need to show us what they have done with CAF and FIFA cash over the years because it’s always ibom that is maintaining our only FIFA approved stadium in a nation of 36 states.
As for the rugby pitch against SA, it’s on NFF because I was shocked Broos was the first to be livid and SAFA begged him that it was to stress Nigerian fans from coming that far to support us that made them to choose the field.
If incompetent NFF had done due diligence and cried out as they did during the Libya saga, we might have been singing differently today.
Don’t blame SA for bailing any nation. Blame us for not treating home matches as they really deserved.
After all, na 2 countries like us civ and Tunisia play 10 games without conceding.
Some others didn’t lose even one game. Some got perfect records and they may have even played on worse pitches yet ground results