Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their current fourth-place standing in the qualifiers. Nigeria, three-time Africa Cup of Nations champions, face a tough challenge as only the group winner secures direct qualification.
Speaking with Brila FM, Nwabali acknowledged the team’s struggles but emphasized that qualification is still within reach. “It is football. Just because we are Nigeria doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed to win every game,” he said. “You can see we still have a lot of chances to qualify, despite where we are on the table.”
The Super Eagles must win all their remaining matches and hope for favorable results from their rivals to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Nwabali added, “We’re going to push in our next game, take it one game at a time, and we’ll see how our next four games go.”
Head coach Eric Chelle shares this optimism, focusing on upcoming critical fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa. Nigeria will need a strong finish to return to the World Cup stage after missing the 2022 tournament. The team is preparing intensively, with several friendly matches planned ahead of the qualifiers’ resumption in September.
