Former Nigeria international, Sylvanus Okpala (aka ‘Quick Silver’), has exclusively told Completesports.com that the Super Eagles could still qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals in Mexico, the USA, and Canada but strongly emphasised that their fate is no longer in their hands.
The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in Group C, trailing leaders South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin Republic as they head into matchday seven of the qualifiers in September.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: I Expected Eagles To Be More Aggressive Against Zimbabwe –Adepoju
‘Quick Silver’ admitted that Nigeria controlled their World Cup destiny after their 2-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali but that the subsequent 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe altered the dynamics of their qualification chances.
“The Super Eagles could still make it to the World Cup, but the truth is that their qualification fate is no longer in their hands,” Okpala told Completesports.com on the sidelines of his team Edel FC’s training match at Awka City Stadium.
“Before the match against Zimbabwe on Tuesday at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Super Eagles’ fate was completely in their hands.
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: South Africa’s Possible Points Deduction Will Be Resolved In Coming Days –Broos
“But that 1-1 draw against the Warriors changed everything, as the Super Eagles must now win all their remaining four games and still rely on the results of matches involving other teams like South Africa, Benin Republic, Rwanda, and even Zimbabwe,” said Okpala, who paved the way for Nigerian players in European professional football with his 1983 move to CF União of Portugal.
South Africa currently lead Group C with 13 points, while the Super Eagles are fourth with seven points.
By Sab Osuji
2 Comments
Players that sees coming to play for their country as holiday and invariably relax mode while playing a very significant game for their country has no business going to the wc. When one or two players sag their shorts while playing while same det of players will never do such act of indiscipline playing for their clubs then we should not expect anything better than low level of commitment playing for a very great footballing nation like nigeria. . What surprises me is the fact that same set of players will be invited again. and of course aga8n they will mess nigeria up without showing any remorse.
My solution;
The new coach has nothing to loose any longer by inviting 50% new players albeit on merit into the eagles for the next match. Through this a new flesh air will naturally flow into our team spirit engineering competions in all the team departments just as Ghana did after failure to qualify for the afcon and is working wonders as the Ghana team vibes as changed for good. Many times we looks like will not qualify for the wc nigeria as always inject fresh new players to ginger strong team commitment. Check 2022. qualifiers, 1994 qualifiers. Pls NFF do the needful change. In the team composition NOW
Why the coach bring in an attacker at the dieing minutes, when he is expected to bring in a defender, is it that the lone goal was not enough to give us the three points? needed at this time, this was a school boy erro