Despite a rocky start to their qualifying campaign, Super Eagles duo Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina are confident that Nigeria can still secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The pair, who played in the AFCON 2023 tournament, believe that the team has the talent and quality to overcome their early hiccups and make it to the World Cup.
Iwobi, who featured in the 2018 World Cup, expressed his desire to relive the experience and lead Nigeria to the World Cup in 2026.
“I hope we qualify because it’s everyone’s dream. Obviously, I’m lucky to have played in the World Cup, but there are some people like Ola (Aina), who were unfortunate not to have gone when I feel like they should have been picked. Everyone wants to go to the World Cup. We still have a chance. We made it hard for ourselves,” Iwobi said.
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Aina, who played in the AFCON 2023 final with an injury, also maintained positivity in the Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup. “I think we’ll get there. I don’t know if it’s a stretch, but you see the way Ghana went and got to the quarter-finals in 2010, we can get to the semis. Our team is so talented, and we can actually do something. I think the AFCON was just a little glimpse of what we can do,” Aina added.
Nigeria’s journey to securing a potential spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been far from smooth. The three-time AFCON winners drew two games under Jose Peseiro, and following his exit, they lost to Benin Republic and drew to South Africa. The team is still without a coach since Finidi George handed in his resignation letter after the June International break.
Despite the challenges, Iwobi and Aina’s comments highlight the optimism within the team. They believe that with the right guidance and preparation, Nigeria can overcome their current struggles and make it to the World Cup. Their comments also underscore the importance of unity and teamwork, emphasizing that everyone wants to contribute to the team’s success.
The Super Eagles continue their qualifying campaign and they will need to draw on the talent and determination of players like Iwobi and Aina to overcome the challenges ahead. With the right mindset and preparation, Nigeria can still achieve their goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
