Nigeria’s possibilities of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup might not be over simply but. Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, says a choice by FIFA may change every thing for the Tremendous Eagles.
Proper now, Nigeria are six factors behind Group C leaders South Africa. Many followers thought the dream of taking part in within the subsequent World Cup in america, Canada, and Mexico was already over.
However there should still be hope.
Dikko revealed that FIFA is trying right into a grievance about South Africa utilizing an ineligible participant, Teboho Mokoena, throughout their match in opposition to Lesotho in March. Stories say Mokoena had already acquired two yellow playing cards and shouldn’t have performed.
Talking to UK-based Nigerian journalist Austin Okon-Akpan, Dikko mentioned, “It’s nonetheless in our palms, relying on what FIFA decides. In the event that they take factors away from South Africa, we may nonetheless qualify by successful our final 4 video games.”
He added, “This isn’t about Africa. It’s FIFA guidelines, and we’ve seen these guidelines used earlier than — even in opposition to us.”
If FIFA finds South Africa responsible and offers the factors to Lesotho as an alternative, the group standings will change. This could deliver Nigeria a lot nearer to the highest of the group. Solely the group winners go straight to the World Cup.
Nigeria missed the final World Cup in Qatar after dropping to Ghana in a playoff. In the event that they fail once more, it will be the primary time they miss two World Cups in a row since they first performed in 1994.
Now, Nigerian followers should wait and hope that FIFA’s determination provides the Tremendous Eagles a recent probability to achieve the 2026 match.
