By Chukwuemeka Opara
On October 14, the Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated the Cheetahs of the Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The result earned the team second place in Group C of the African zone qualifiers, as South Africa secured the top spot, qualifying automatically for the mundial as the group leaders.
To this end, Nigeria will exploit a remedial route to the World Cup through a playoff series, a situation made possible by the intricacies surrounding Eritrea’s withdrawal from its group, which ensured the Eagles secured a playoff lifeline.
From November 13 to November 16, Nigeria will compete against Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Morocco for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoffs for the mundial; the winner will participate in the FIFA playoffs scheduled for March 2026.
This is the first time Nigeria will be seeking a remedial route to the World Cup since its maiden appearance in the U.S. in 1994.
Many Nigerians view the development as a dent in the country’s giant football status in Africa and the world.
Others, who still share the same view, believe that making the playoffs is better than not participating at all.
Football fans in Ebonyi also shared their sentiments.
Some of them lamented that the Eagles, who won the AFCON silver in 2024, might depend on playoffs to qualify for the World Cup.
Others, however, argue that the country should face the current realities and focus on achieving successful playoffs.
They say the spirit and commitment exhibited in the Benin Republic match should be the key.
Richard Idike, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, said that the players should stay focused and realise that their opponents at the playoffs also wanted to be at the World Cup.
Idike opined that the commotion over not topping the group should cease, and adequate attention be paid towards a seamless playoffs.
“Nigerians were saying that the team could not have been in its precarious situation if it had approached all its qualifiers, such as the Benin Republic match.
“They approached the match as if their lives depended on it, and this approach should be sustained at the playoffs.
“What we should concentrate on presently is to ensure that no excuse is given to Nigerians for a successive World Cup qualification failure because they might not accept such.”
The commissioner urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to do everything possible to ensure success at the playoffs, given the concerns raised by the match against the Benin Republic.
“The NFF must have identified all grey areas during the qualifiers, and these playoffs are an opportunity to get things right,” he said.
Ikenna Odo, a member of the Ebonyi Football Association, said the players should also conduct a soul-search to realise areas where they did not perform well.
“People have belaboured the issue of the renewed vigour with which they prosecuted the last two matches involving Lesotho and the Benin Republic.
“The players might have played with such Spartan spirit on realising the decisiveness of both games.
“The fact remains that if they had exerted half of the energy seen from both games on previous ones, we could have chalked up the two points which denied us automatic qualification.
“It is hoped that the players have identified the inadequacies which put spanners in their works during the qualifiers.”
Odo’s popularity, known as Isa in the Ebonyi sporting and social circles, was that though the playoffs came as a huge relief, the reality remained that the road was filled with thorns.
“Nigerians should realise that other countries still want to explore the playoff route to the World Cup, especially those who have not been there before.
“A country such as Gabon will be buoyed by the surprise qualification of minnows Cape Verde and wants to be there also.
“We are possibly faced with a fight between the human and spirit situation because even if we emerge victorious in the African playoffs, the international playoffs still lie in wait in March 2026.
“Nigerians should therefore gauge their expectations on the Eagles because it could go either way; the players should take every match as a final. Excuses would definitely be costly at this stage,” he said.
Chief Barry Obiekwe, a transporter and football enthusiast, cautioned that there would be no room for any administrative slip from the NFF concerning the playoffs.
Obiekwe said the NFF must have presently understood Nigerians’ feelings towards a successive World Cup miss, especially the interest shown by the presidency.
“It is also common knowledge that countries that missed the playoffs are still ruing such, especially Burkina Faso, which Nigeria beat to the final playoffs slot.
“The federation inconceivably used four coaches for the qualifying series, as such technical inconsistency destabilised the team.
“Stakeholders raised concerns about a change in the team’s coaching crew after the last AFCON, but the contract of the then-coach, Jose Peseiro, was not renewed.
“The players even implored that the Portuguese tactician be retained, but such was not done.
“The search for Peseiro’s replacement took months, and Finidi George, the ex-International, who replaced him, stayed for two matches and left; Augustine Eguavoen, who oversaw the AFCON 2025 qualifiers during the World Cup qualification break, was also dropped.”
He said the current Coach, Eric Chelle, had also taken time to be employed, and the coaching inconsistency had, by then, done the team deep harm.
“The players have, however, remedied this harm by giving their all to ensure a playoff slot.
“It is also gratifying to hear the NFF reposing confidence in the coach, even taking about engaging him for a more extended period.
“We have been told to forget the past and look forward, but everything should be done to ensure that the past does not repeat,” he said.
Mrs Ogechukwu Onuoha, a teacher and football enthusiast, urged Nigerians to pray for the team to be at its best at the playoffs.
Onuoha said that prayers could play a key role during the playoffs because their efficacy contributed to taking the team to such a stage.
She said that the prayer notion became more imperative because the Eagles’ opponents would also do everything within their power to qualify for the World Cup.
“We should continue imagining the mood in the country had we not qualified for the playoffs; the God of the 11th hour came to the team’s rescue.
“Urging the players to be fit, focused and committed to prevent the heartbreak of another World Cup miss is easy to say.
“The implementation lies on the pitch during the playoffs as many variables contribute to sporting successes when you have the backing of prayers.
“This is why two teams competing in a football match pray before commencement of hostilities, and some are said to engage in some unorthodox spiritual means, for victory,” she said.
Ultimately, stakeholders are optimistic that, with energy and patriotism, the Super Eagles can navigate the challenging and multi-stage playoffs and secure a World Cup slot.
