Former Super Eagles defender, Abiodun Obafemi, has expressed strong confidence that Nigeria will still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the team’s resilience and winning mentality will shine through, even if the path to qualification goes down to the wire.
Speaking in Lagos after Nigeria’s recent camp update in Polokwane, Obafemi said that while the group remains tight following FIFA’s points deduction against South Africa, the Super Eagles have the quality and experience to finish strongly.
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“I still believe we’ll qualify — even if it means going through the playoffs,” Obafemi said. “Nigeria has always been a team that performs best under pressure. When people doubt us, that’s when we rise.”
The former Fortuna Düsseldorf and 1860 Munich defender, who featured for Nigeria at the 1996 Olympics, noted that qualification may not be in the Super Eagles’ hands entirely, but he remains optimistic that with maximum points from their remaining two fixtures, they can still book a ticket to USA, Mexico, and Canada.
“The players know what’s at stake. There’s no more room for mistakes — they just need to win their matches and let other results take care of themselves. If we beat Lesotho and Benin Republic, we’ll be right in the mix.”
Obafemi also called for unity and focus within the squad, emphasizing that distractions about permutations or group standings should be avoided.
“This is the time for total concentration,” he added. “We’ve seen miracles happen before. The Super Eagles have done it when it mattered most, and they can do it again.”
He urged Nigerians to rally behind the team, saying collective belief and support can give the players the extra push needed to overcome the tense qualification battle.
