The Super Eagles of Nigeria are undoubtedly the face of African football on the global stage, but they have failed to live up to this billing in recent years. They missed out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and their hope of making it to the 2026 World Cup is currently in their hands. Below is an overview of the Eagles' historic run, squad depth, managerial struggles, and their chances of making it to the FIFA 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America.
Brief History of the National Team
Nigeria have had representatives at the international level since 1938, even before independence, and fast-forward to 1949, they played their first official game as a British colony. They played their first African Cup of Nations just three years after their independence, but waited for almost two decades before winning the title in 1980. Despite being named the giants of Africa, they have managed to win two more AFCON titles (1994 and 2013). Outside of Africa, they have made it to six FIFA World Cups, starting in 1994, but have not made it past the round of 16.
Nevertheless, the golden generation of Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu will forever be remembered. They were instrumental in winning the AFCON title and gold at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, where they defeated Argentina in the final. In the long run, the current squad appears to be the best Nigeria have ever produced, with Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and many more, but they lack a trophy to show for it. They missed out on the last World Cup, losing to Ghana in the playoffs, and now they need to put in the effort to return to their rightful place in World Football.
Nigeria’s Performance in Major Tournaments
| Year | Tournament | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Group stage |
| 1968 | Olympic football | Group stage |
| 1976 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 1978 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 1980 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Champions |
| 1982 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Group stage |
| 1984 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Runners-up |
| 1988 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Runners-up |
| 1990 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Runners-up |
| 1992 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 1994 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Champions |
| 1994 | FIFA World Cup | Round of 16 |
| 1996 | Olympic football | Gold medal |
| 1998 | FIFA World Cup | Round of 16 |
| 2000 | Olympic football | Runners-up |
| 2000 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Quarter-finals |
| 2002 | FIFA World Cup | Third place |
| 2002 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Group stage |
| 2004 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 2006 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 2008 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Quarter-finals |
| 2008 | Olympic football | Silver medal |
| 2010 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 2010 | FIFA World Cup | Group stage |
| 2013 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Champions |
| 2014 | FIFA World Cup | Round of 16 |
| 2016 | Olympic football | Bronze medal |
| 2018 | FIFA World Cup | Group stage |
| 2019 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Third place |
| 2021 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Round of 16 |
| 2022 | World Cup Qualifiers | Lost in Playoffs |
| 2023 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Runners-up |
| 2025 | Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) | Qualified |
| 2026 | FIFA World Cup | African play-offs |
Road to the 2026 World Cup
The Super Eagles have had a tough run in their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They started with just two points against Lesotho and Zimbabwe under José Peseiro, but the country made some changes to their backroom staff, bringing in Finidi George. However, the former Nigerian international was able to pick up one point in two games, playing a one-all draw against South Africa, and losing 2-1 to Benin. Nonetheless, they were unbeaten in their last six games under new head coach Eric Chelle, with the only dent being a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The hope of qualifications looks increasingly thin with each matchday, and until the 4th goal against Benin, their hope of making the playoffs was hanging in the air. They have done the nearly impossible, but the job is not over yet. They will now face Gabon in the one-legged semifinal in November, and if they can get the win, they will face the winner between Cameroon and DR Congo on the 16th of that same month. The winner of the game will now be the African representative at the six-team intercontinental playoffs in March 2026, where two teams will qualify for the World Cup. With the look of things, Nigeria's greatest challenge will be to make it out of Africa.
World Cup Qualifying Group Standings
Group C Standing
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | +6 | 18 |
| Nigeria | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 17 |
| Benin | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 17 |
| Lesotho | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | -3 | 12 |
| Rwanda | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 11 |
| Zimbabwe | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 5 |
Ranking of the Second Best Teams in Each Group
| Rank | Team | Group | Points | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabon | F | 19 | +6 |
| 2 | DR Congo | B | 16 | +5 |
| 3 | Cameroon | D | 15 | +9 |
| 4 | Nigeria | C | 15 | +7 |
| 5 | Burkina Faso | A | 15 | +6 |
| 6 | Niger | E | 15 | +1 |
| 7 | Madagascar | I | 13 | 0 |
| 8 | Uganda | G | 12 | +2 |
| 9 | Namibia | H | 9 | -2 |
Squad Overview
The Super Eagles are the most valuable team in Africa, with a market value hitting around €335.45 million. The team is a combination of homegrown players and foreign-based players. The first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, currently plies his trade for Chippa United F.C. in South Africa. He has been exceptional since making his debut for the Eagles, but his “overconfidence” and “arrogance” have been faulted by fans in his recent games. The fans want him to keep a cool head and do away with unnecessary drama that could impact their qualification.
Captain William Troost-Ekong has always shown leadership. He stepped forward to take the penalty against Lesotho, and when he is not playing, he supports the technical team. At 26, Victor Osimhen is another key figure in the team. He is passionate, and his eye for goals carries the Super Eagles to where they are today. Whenever he is not on the field, his presence is always felt. A player whom some people always fail to give flowers to is Alex Iwobi. He is the most consistent player on the team, consistently delivering his best in the middle of the park.
At the back, former ABS and Nasarawa United defender Benjamin Fredrick looks to have secured his starting spot in the defence. The boy is calm as a CB or RB, and with him, the future of the Nigerian defence is safe. The contributions of these players should be enough to take the nation to the World Cup.
Fans’ Reaction and Expectations
Despite recent outbursts from fans across Nigeria about their likely chance of missing out on the World Cup, joy returned to them after the 4-0 win over Benin. They are now more motivated than ever, and it's up to the Super Eagles to do their part and win their playoff games. Starting from the presidency, Nigerians look forward to making it to the FIFA World Cup next year.
While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs. …We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.
Conclusion
Nigeria's journey has been filled with ups and downs, but their destiny is currently in their hands. Win all your games and be at the World Cup. So if the team can play with much hunger, and if the coach is ready to play a natural right winger in Samuel Chukwueze than forcing Lookman and Simon on the field at the same time, the Super Eagles will soar again on football’s biggest stage. A seventh World Cup appearance is possible.
