NIGERIA’s Super Eagles face a mounting uphill task in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after Group C rivals South Africa and Benin Republic recorded crucial victories on Friday to widen the gap on the standings.
The three-time African champions, who take on Rwanda at the Victor Attah International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, have struggled for consistency in the qualifiers and now find themselves playing catch-up.
In Johannesburg, South Africa turned on the style, thrashing Lesotho 3-0 in a dominant display that underscored their resurgence on the continental stage. The victory lifted Bafana Bafana to 16 points, strengthening their grip on the top spot in Group C.
The South Africans, who have built momentum under coach Hugo Broos, now appear to be in pole position to secure one of the group’s automatic World Cup slots.
In Abidjan, Benin Republic continued their impressive campaign, edging Zimbabwe 1-0 in a tense encounter. The win pushed the Cheetahs to 11 points, keeping them firmly in second place and tightening the noose around Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
By contrast, Nigeria’s Super Eagles remain stranded on seven points after a string of lacklustre performances earlier in the qualifiers.
Even if the Eagles secure victory against Rwanda in Saturday’s clash, they would still be stuck in third place, behind South Africa and Benin.
That leaves next week’s highly anticipated away clash against South Africa in Johannesburg as a potential make-or-break tie for Nigeria’s qualification dreams.
The stakes could not be higher for coach Chelle and his players, who have come under heavy criticism from fans and analysts for their inconsistent performances.
The Eagles’ inability to kill off games and their defensive lapses have cost them valuable points in earlier matches.
Saturday’s match in Uyo is expected to draw a large home crowd, with fans urging the team to respond decisively.
Group C Standings After Friday’s Matches
South Africa – 16 points
Benin Republic – 11 points
Nigeria – 7 points
Rwanda – 6 points (before facing Nigeria)
Zimbabwe – 5 points
Lesotho – 4 points
With only a handful of qualifying games left, the coming days may well decide the Super Eagles’ fate. Victory over Rwanda is non-negotiable, but the crunch encounter against South Africa on Tuesday could ultimately determine whether Nigeria books its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA, Canada, and Mexico, or risks missing out for the first time since 2006.