In spite of seeing South Africa extend their lead atop Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification group, following a 3-0 spanking of Lesotho on Friday, former Super Eagles’ winger, Femi Opabunmi has predicted victory for Eric Chelle’s team at the same venue on Tuesday.
Sports247 reports that Friday’s victory took South Africa’s haul up to 16 points, pending an official pronouncement by FIFA regarding a likely reduction of three slots from Bafana Bafana’s booty, on account of their use of an inelligible player in their first leg against the same Lesotho.
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Though the setting now appears insurmountable for the Super Eagles, who must first defeat Rwanda in Uyo on Saturday to move up to 10 points on the log, Opabunmi believes the Nigerian team will also win away in Bloemfontein on Tuesday in order to draw level with Bafana Bafana on 13 points if FIFA eventually deduct three of South Africa’s slots.
Opabunmi, whose outing at Korea/Japan 2002 made him the Eagles’ youngest player ever to play in a senior World Cup match, declared: “I always say impossible is nothing in football. Nothing is impossible for Nigeria, because they will always try their best.”
He argued further that all the players know what is at stake and that their chances of making it to the first World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries crucially lies in them getting victories over Rwanda and South Africa, which he predicted will both come to pass.
“We are in a crucial situation at the moment, and they are still going to South Africa. It will not be easy to win over there, but I believe we can do it. We can achieve it with our determination and with the players we have.
“With the like of Osimhen, Lookman, Chukwueze and all the other strikers, I know Nigeria will prove what we’ve got there. We need maximum three points and we’ll get them,” Opabunmi affirmed.
