Former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju has warned that South Africa and Benin will give the Super Eagles a tough battle in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Recall that Nigeria will play the Bafana Bafana on June 3rd, 2024, before confronting Benin on June 10.
However, in an interview with Hot Sports, Adepoju stated that both South Africa and Benin were desperate to pick points from the Super Eagles.
Read Also: BREAKING: Finidi George Appointed New Super Eagles Head Coach
“South Africa is not going to be easy; we defeated them in the semifinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and our women defeated them in the Olympic qualifiers,” Adepoju said to Hot Sports.
“It’s always very tough playing against South Africa, just like playing against Cameroon in the past and even Ghana.
“That’s another big opposition. Benin Republic and any team are motivated to play against us.
“What we have to do is try and break them, so all the support should be given to the coaches. The players should have that belief that the whole country is behind them.”
13 Comments
Yes…Before the appointment of Finidi George, we do not need any crystal ball to know it will be difficult…. and with this new appointment, it is even going to be more difficult for us to beat those 2 teams to qualify for the World cup. At this point, only a miracle will bail us out….
You are so right @Olu. Which way Nigeria???
The countries that are winning world cup, we have beaten some of them. We recently beat current world champions Argentina in a friendly.
Our brothers from Morocco recently got to the world cup semis. Should Nigeria not be aspiring to match that feat, or do better? Is it a taboo to imagine Nigeria as the next world cup winner? Is it an abomination?
An ambitious, competent NFF would have taken timely steps to maximize our chances of success. This present bunch are neither ambitious nor competent.
Bawo la se de ibi ti a wa yi ni to ri Oloun….Ibo la ja si yi…Se na curse? Instead of moving forward, something go drag us back sha ni…o ga o…..
Oro won ti su mi.
NFFmagomago, NFFBarawo. This administration is the worst. They can never do the right thing. Only to chop chop money like rats.
The major problem we have in NFF is the past NFF President ( Amoju Pinic) He’s the one who make way for Finidi to become the new super eagles coach. No world cup 2026 for Nigeria.
With finding George, I don’t think nigeria will qualify for 2026 world cup.
With Finidi George we are winning and God will be on our side,
Please let us be positive in our thinking and belief in ourselves
Blame your Minister of sports and his cohorts for pending sports calamity that will befall Nigerians any moment from now. The worst minister of sports ever in Nigeria.
@Akogun you are absolutely right. The sport minister is to be blamed for putting us in this mess. How can a sport minister threatened the NFF that Abuja will blow if Amunike is not given the job. It was the minister that told NFF the ministry won’t bankroll foreign coach. This is the problem with this particular tribe who wanted to pocket Nigeria by all means believing they are the jews of this country
Finidi George has no capability to win the 2026 World Cup slot for Nigeria.All odds are against him. He has no clout to manage our international players. He has no track records even at club level not to talk of Country level. That’s how NFF wasted Nigeria time by bringing Oliseh. We should just forget about World cup qualification. Our Nigerian coaches are not at that level yet.
You guys are shallow minded and you are not patriotic and optimistic. Finidi is one of the most decorated footballer in Nigeria. Football has to do with psychology. He will read what you are writing. You comments will either demoralize or energize him. Tell him he can do it. He can will. He can take the boys to world cup and win. Stop being negative.