It was a proud moment when the Super Eagles qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup outing in 1994, and what an ecstatic feeling it was when the late legendary Rashidi Yekini grabbed hold of the net in joy after scoring the country’s first goal in the opening 3-0 win over Bulgaria in the group stage.
Yekini’s jubilation is regarded as one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history and since then, Nigeria have been to five other tournaments, each one with its own memorable moment.
🇳🇬 Super Eagles squad list for the World Cup qualifiers vs Rwanda & South Africa this September! 💪⚽#SuperEagles pic.twitter.com/zwJV55OXTn
— AfroSport (@AfroSportTV) August 29, 2025
The 2026 World Cup is less than a year away in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and rather than feel confident of qualification, the Super Eagles are at a point where the prospect of failing to qualify is much greater.
Not something passionate fans want to hear or think about but that is the reality. The team have been under four head coaches since the start of the qualifiers in November 2023 (Jose Peseiro, Finidi George Austin Eguavoen and presently Eric Chelle).
Nigeria are a distant fourth in Group C of the qualifiers, nine points behind South Africa with four games to go. Bafana Bafana opened that gap after defeating Lesotho 3-0 on Friday. The gap might shrink when Chelle’s side face Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday but that is even they will do the needful.
Final touches before battle….. pic.twitter.com/w0CpMGrKFB
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 5, 2025
The Super Eagles have only recorded one win in the qualifiers, drawing four and losing once. Their only win was the reverse fixture against the Rwandans in Kigali which ended 2-0. They had unfavourable draws against Zimbabwe and Lesotho at home while losing to Benin, and it has left them in a position where qualification is not in their hands.
Chelle’s side must beat Rwanda and South Africa in this international window while replicating the same thing against Lesotho and Benin in their final qualifiers next month.
Even if this is achieved, they must now hope for misfortune hitting South Africa while also hoping Bafana Bafana get three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho back in March.
#SuperEagles stars share their thoughts ahead of this month’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. #SoarSuperEagles #fifawcq2026 pic.twitter.com/WqNjzCTrSf
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 3, 2025
This is however a long shot for Nigeria because South Africa knowing the implication of getting three points deducted will do everything in their power to also win their remaining games. There is also Benin, under the watch of former Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr, in the running.
This means the Super Eagles must be in top gear from now till the end. Any further drop in points can more or less bring an end to their hopes of clinching the sole automatic berth from Group C.
It would also make it the first time the West African giants failed to make it to back-to-back World Cup tournaments having missed out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Back in action for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 👊🏾
🆚 – Rwanda 🇷🇼
🕔 – 5pm (NGA)
🏟️ – Godswill Akpabio Stadium#Naija4theWin #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/XKVhfx3yJx— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 6, 2025
What started as a glorious achievement 32 years ago for Africa’s biggest country, could end up being a nightmare for more than 200 million people now.
It is therfore now or never for the Super Eagles.
