2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Super Eagles Face Uphill Battle Amid Injuries, Bonus Row, and Poor Form

Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered another setback as Zimbabwe confirmed that their remaining home fixtures would be played in Durban, South Africa. With just 11 points from eight matches, the Super Eagles can only secure a maximum of six more points if they win their last two games.

Zimbabwe, like Lesotho, play their home matches in South Africa—a factor that many believe has already tilted the balance in favour of Bafana Bafana, who have claimed victories over Lesotho in both legs (six points), defeated Zimbabwe once (three points), and are widely tipped to win the return fixture. South Africa currently sit in a strong position, while Nigeria trails in third place behind Benin Republic (14 points) and Rwanda (11 points, same as Nigeria).

The Super Eagles’ campaign has been dogged by inconsistent performances and instability in the technical crew, leaving Nigeria in a precarious fight for a playoff spot. Analysts note that several second-placed teams across other groups, including Burkina Faso (15 points, +14 goals), DR Congo (16 points, +7), Cameroon (16 points, +10), and Gabon (19 points, +6), are currently in much stronger positions.

Despite the odds, former Super Eagles assistant coach Sylvanus Okpala believes all hope is not lost:

“There is still a lot to play for. We still have two matches to play; we must win them before thinking about playoffs or automatic qualification. There is no calculator—just win both games.”

Yet off-field crises continue to haunt Nigerian football. According to sports journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, the Super Eagles have gone nearly three years without receiving match bonuses—covering as many as 30 matches. He said on Sporty FM:

“You have players who have not been paid their match bonuses dating back to three years. These players sometimes are not in the right frame of mind.”

This comes despite reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) received ₦17 billion from the federal government and $34 million from CAF to settle outstanding bonuses.

Structural problems further compound the crisis. Nigeria currently has only one FIFA- and CAF-approved stadium in Uyo and no proper technical centre for player preparations.

New Telegraph editor Adekunle Salami blamed technical instability for recent poor results:

“It worked against the team. In the last match against South Africa, Coach Chelle made a wrong call starting Cyriel Dessers, who had been twice substituted in the Rwanda game, while leaving Arokodare—the match-winner against Rwanda—on the bench. Let’s forget the World Cup and focus on the Nations Cup in December.”

Injuries to key players have further weakened the squad. Raphael Onyedika is sidelined, while Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi remain doubts. Ndidi’s injury, sustained during Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with South Africa, has raised concerns given his history of relapses.

The Super Eagles now face decisive clashes against Lesotho and Benin Republic. With their World Cup dream slipping away, the team must win both matches to stand any chance of salvaging a playoff spot—or risk watching the global showpiece from the sidelines.

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