AHEAD of next month’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, former Nigeria International Mobi Oparaku said the Super Eagles risk qualification if they fail to play as a team against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s chances of winning the automatic Group C ticket hangs in the balance after taking just three points in their opening four matches and Oparaku believes results of the next two matches in March could decide the fate of the Super Eagles.
Oparaku, a soccer gold medal winner with the national U-23 team at Atlanta 1996 Olympics, said the Super Eagles can get back their mojo in the race for a ticket to next year’s Mundial if they play with a unity of purpose.
“When they come out (next month) they should not come out as individuals playing for Nigeria but they should come out as a team that is representing Nigeria,” the 48-year-old who featured at the France 1998 with the Super Eagles, said in an interview aired on Brila Fm.“ There is a different between a player that comes to represent the Super Eagles and a team of players that come out to represent Nigeria.
“When they come out as a team that represents the country, we can then talk about what they have but not as individuals.
“But when we speak about individuals, it means we don’t have a team but I hope this new coach (Eric Sekou Chelle) would be able to pull the team together and play like a gang for the world Cup qualifiers.”
Meanwhile, coach Chelle along with his first assistant Hedi Taboubi, is reportedly in England to meet with Premier League stars like Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi ahead of next month’s must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
They will talk with the players on how the Super Eagles will approach these two qualifiers and what is expected of them both on and off the pitch.
“Eric is working quietly and with a clear direction,” a reliable source told this newspaper
Nigeria will be away to Rwanda on March 21 and host Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in the march double header. Rwanda are top of Group C with seven points ahead of South Africa and Benin, who also have same number of points but inferior goals difference. Lesotho are fourth on five points, while the Super Eagles are fifth with three points. Zimbabwe are bottom of the standings on two points after four rounds of matches.
