Former Super Eagles midfielder Duke Udi has maintained faith in Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, insisting that football’s unpredictability still favors the team. “It’s not over yet,” Udi said. “With South Africa losing points, we just need to win ours and wait for other results.”
Udi’s optimism was echoed in Europe, where Fulham manager Marco Silva offered encouragement of his own — this time to Samuel Chukwueze, who recently joined the club from AC Milan.
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Despite providing an assist in his last outing, Silva believes the winger still needs time to settle. “He’s a fantastic player, but he hasn’t had enough training sessions because of international duties. He will improve with more time,” Silva explained.
The Portuguese coach, however, praised Chukwueze’s attitude and technical quality. “His assist shows what he can bring — creativity, pace, and courage. Once he blends fully with the team, he’ll be a big weapon for us,” Silva added.
For Nigeria and Chukwueze alike, patience and consistency appear to be the recurring themes: the former must win crucial qualifiers to stay alive, while the latter must adapt steadily to a new system. Both battles, though different, share one truth — perseverance will decide success.
