Former Nigerian international Ifeanyi Udeze has charged the Super Eagles to utilize the playoffs as an avenue to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Recall that Nigeria qualified for the playoff after thrashing Benin 4-0 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Tuesday, to finish Group C on 17 points.
With a +7 goal difference and 15 points in the rankings, the Super Eagles climbed above Burkina Faso in the playoff standings. Only Gabon and Cameroon currently sit higher.
Reacting to the development, Udeze, who was a guest on Sporty TV‘s 2026 World Cup coverage on Tuesday, stated that the Super Eagles must replicate their impressive display against Benin in the playoff.
Read Also:2026 WCQ: Super Eagles Maul Benin 4–0, Qualify For Playoffs; South Africa Clinch World Cup Ticket
He also stated that he would prefer to face Cameroon in their final playoff.
“If the Super Eagles had played Lesotho and Zimbabwe the way they play against Benin, I am sure we wouldn’t be where we are at the moment.
“But so far so good; I am happy with the way the players turned up today. All the Super Eagles players played their hearts out. They played good football today, and I am just happy with the way they played.
“I hope they continue this way in the playoff even though we didn’t make it to the World Cup automatically. Preferably, I would like the Super Eagles to face Cameroon in the playoff.”
7 Comments
How are they going to utilized playoffs tho
There are teams with 19 points higher than Nigeria tho
Fact that you Ghanaians were celebrating our exit instead of your qualification baffles me. Are you people really a Godly nation or a demonic nation? Yet you invite our pastors to grace your conferences.
Thank God that Eritrea withdrew for the rules to be altered. Shameless Ghanaians wishing for their neighbours to fail before they can enjoy their own victory. You people are a disgrace to west Africa for seeking the downfall of your west African neighbours that speaks English with you.
The hate has become a sign of witchcraft that some of your bloggers are already making headlines that Nigeria has been eliminated from the playoffs not knowing that we actually made the playoffs. All this hate will make Nigeria realise that we have to love ourselves Hausa Igbo Yoruba.
When we win trophies you hypocrites will say congratulations our Nigerian brothers but deep down it’s a bitter taste in your mouths. You’ve not won Afcon since you and majority of your generations were born and all this is because of your hate for a nation you should be looking up to for never say die mindset. Afcon in December too will come and you didn’t even qualify. Keep praying for Nigeria to fail and you’ll only suffer the repercussions.
**Dis is Mokey yaish – I cannot believe how dumb all yuh Nigraein are!
mugus wii come here and be swearing wit their fada life dat Mokey yaish is a Nigerains lol-
Yuh pipo are idiots! Yuh all knows yurselfs.
opata brainless mugus, no wonder Nigreain are being cheated and suffering around de world – is this not the reason?
Anybodi dat ees as stupid as de Nigreains here who always open their over sabi dirty mouth whu can’t see dat this is Mokey yaish don’t deseve to be rated as a human beans – yuh pipo are animals! Na thunder go fire wuna yaishs lmaaoo Robbish!
As the saying goes – EVERY DISAPPOINTMENT IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.
The disappointment of missing out on automatic qualification might turn to be a huge blessing for Nigeria.
Preparations for the upcoming playoffs in November means the SE will be camping early, which will benefit them for their Afcon preparation as well.
Chelle will have more time to work with the team, and the playoff games will give the team more time to gel and understand each other.
We’ve done well today. We got the goals needed to win the game. GOALS WIN GAMES. And 3 of the goals came from service into the box, while the first goal came from a well placed pass from Chukwueze.
We need to keep playing with desire, passion and focus, We need to keep scoring goals. And we need other players to step up and score goals. Osimhen’s goals and other player’s goals will hopefully get us to the mundial and perhaps, just perhaps, win us the much coveted Afcon trophy.
Early camping ke? It’s FIFA international window in November, sir. The prayer should be our stars should stay fit in their club sides. Leagues will be on full throttle.
Nigeria will play Gabon on Nov 13 in the CAF playoff semifinal. Win the mini-tournament and Nigeria head to the FIFA playoff as a seeded team, giving them a shorter path—one game—to the World Cup thanks to their superior ranking
There are 2 rankings before the playoffs of next year. This months own which I think will properly situate our opponents next month and the one in early March.
Assuming we made it off next month and failed to go far in afcon in December, rankings will tank by March.
So, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves yet.
Gabon, Cameroon and even DRC outscored us and had even more points than us during the 10 games series.
So, no one will lie down for us to just stroll through them. Let’s be humble