NIGERIA’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain alive despite widespread anxiety triggered by reports that the Super Eagles may have lost their opportunity to compete in the global tournament.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the wave of concern spread across the country on Wednesday evening after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) confirmed the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) as Africa’s representative for the upcoming inter-confederation playoff tournament scheduled to take place in Mexico.
In an official media accreditation notice released ahead of the tournament, FIFA outlined the competition format and listed DR Congo among the six nations expected to battle for the final two qualification spots at the expanded World Cup.
The development sparked fears among Nigerian football fans that the Super Eagles’ dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup had effectively ended.
However, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has urged Nigerians not to panic, insisting that the country’s qualification hopes remain intact pending a final ruling from FIFA.
Speaking in an interview with News Point Nigeria Sport via telephone Saturday night, Dikko explained that FIFA has yet to deliver a verdict on Nigeria’s petition challenging the eligibility of DR Congo.
“As far as we know, FIFA is yet to give its verdict,” Dikko said. “We are monitoring the situation closely. The fact that DR Congo appears among the six nations to compete for the final two spots in the playoff is not enough to conclude that FIFA has thrown out Nigeria’s petition.”
He stressed that the listing of DR Congo in FIFA’s communication does not necessarily determine the outcome of the case currently before the global football governing body.
“Some nations are already preparing for friendly matches ahead of the tournament, but things could change once FIFA releases its official verdict,” he added.
Dikko also pointed out that FIFA traditionally communicates sensitive decisions through official channels directly to the parties involved, suggesting that no final decision has been formally conveyed to Nigeria.
“The FIFA we all know has established procedures for communicating decisions of this nature,” he said. “DR Congo’s name may appear in the fixtures for now simply because the matter brought before FIFA has not yet been decided.”
The NSC chairman expressed confidence that Nigeria’s petition could still succeed and potentially restore the Super Eagles’ opportunity to compete in the playoff.
“We are very hopeful that Nigeria will win the eligibility case. If that happens, the Super Eagles will proceed to the playoff and possibly qualify for the World Cup,” he said.
He therefore appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and await FIFA’s final decision on the matter.
“I want all Nigerians to remain calm and wait for the final verdict,” Dikko added.
According to FIFA’s announcement on Wednesday, the six nations currently scheduled to participate in the inter-confederation playoff are Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname.
The playoff tournament will determine the final two teams that will join the expanded 48-nation lineup for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Meanwhile, questions have also arisen over the Super Eagles’ participation in an upcoming four-nation invitational tournament scheduled to take place in Jordan, amid rising tensions in parts of the Middle East.