How Nigeria Can Qualify For 2026 World Cup – Eguavoen

Super Eagles Interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen has opened up on what the team needs to do to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite their poor start in the qualifiers.

Nigeria can only boast of a poor three points from four games to sit second from bottom in Group C.

The team endured a poor start to the qualifiers with a dismal 1-1 draw against Lesotho, followed by another draw with Zimbabwe.

In the third match, Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw at home against South Africa before losing to Benin Republic 2-1 in their fourth match.

The Super Eagles are yet to win in the World Cup qualifiers which makes it difficult for them to dream about a place in the competition.

Rwanda, South Africa and the Benin Republic all have seven points apiece, while Lesotho can boast of five points from four games, all these teams are ahead of the Super Eagles.

Eguavoen, who was announced as the interim manager of the team for the Nations Cup qualifiers against Libya, believes the team can still make it to the FIFA Mundial.

He said, “It has to be with positive thinking (for Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup)

“We have to approach every game like a cup final, and we have a big chance once we keep winning these remaining games even if it were by 1-0.”

Eguavoen led the Super Eagles to a 3-0 win over Benin Republic and a goalless draw against Rwanda in the Nations Cup qualifiers in September.

There have been calls from some football fans urging the Nigeria Football Federation to appoint him as the permanent coach of the Super Eagles.

The 58-year-old has stated the conditions that must be in place for him to take the job on a full-time basis.

Eguavoen said, “It will be a tough one. You have to give me a long-term contract with patience and clauses in that contract because winning is not guaranteed every week or day.

“You will give me time to tweak the team till I find what I want.”

The Super Eagles camp will open on Monday for the preparations for the double-header against Libya.

The first leg will take place at the Godswil Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on October 11, while the second leg is billed for the Martyrs Stadium in Libya four days later.