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Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has expressed strong confidence that Nigeria will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite the team’s shaky start to the qualification campaign.
The Fulham star, speaking in an interview with CNN, said the players are determined to redeem themselves and secure a ticket to the global tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria, managed by Eric Chelle, recovered from an early setback to finish second in Group C, behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, thereby earning a place in the playoff round.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to face the Panthers of Gabon in the semi-final of the playoffs on Thursday, November 13, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
Reflecting on the team’s resurgence, Iwobi said the squad remains optimistic and ready to deliver.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” he said. “We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
Iwobi pointed to the individual quality within the team as a reason for confidence, noting the presence of top African performers like Ademola Lookman, who was crowned African Footballer of the Year (2024), and Victor Osimhen, the 2023 winner.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen). It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves,” he added.
Nigeria, who missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after losing to Ghana on away goals, are keen to make a return to football’s biggest stage.
Football analysts have described the coming playoff clash as a defining moment for the Super Eagles’ new generation, who are eager to restore the nation’s reputation as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.