Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following the team’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
The match, part of the African qualifiers for the World Cup, ended in a frustrating stalemate for Nigeria, with an own goal from captain William Troost-Ekong and a well-taken strike from defender Calvin Bassey ensuring both sides shared the points.
With the draw, South Africa remain firmly in control at the top of Group C, holding a six-point lead over second-placed Nigeria. Only two matches remain in the qualification campaign, and the Super Eagles now face an uphill battle to make it to the global tournament.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty TV, Adepoju did not mince words in his assessment of the situation.
“It’s going to be very difficult, even mathematically,” he said. “We have teams like Benin Republic and others in the group also pushing to qualify. South Africa is already leading Nigeria by six points, and it’s hard to see them losing both of their last games.”
He explained that Nigeria’s current position makes it even harder to qualify through the best losers’ route, which allows a few non-group winners to advance based on overall points.
“Looking at the ranking for the overall best losers in the qualifiers, Nigeria is not near the second best,” Adepoju said. “For us to even have a chance there, the teams ahead would have to lose their final matches, and that’s very unlikely.”
Nigeria’s current campaign has been plagued by inconsistency, drawing matches they were expected to win and failing to capitalise on key opportunities. Fans have become increasingly frustrated, with many questioning the tactics and team selection of head coach Finidi George.
With only two games left to play, the Super Eagles must win both and hope other results go their way to stand any realistic chance of qualifying. However, Adepoju, who played at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, warned that relying on other teams to slip up is a dangerous position to be in.
“We can only hope something changes, but right now it’s very tough,” he added.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s most successful football nations, has qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups since its debut in 1994. Failing to reach the 2026 tournament—hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—would be a major blow to the country’s football image and a disappointment to millions of fans.
The Super Eagles’ next two matches are now must-win encounters, with their fate hanging in the balance. As Adepoju and many others have pointed out, qualification is still possible but the road ahead is steep, and the margin for error is now zero.
